wisdom teeth – Space travel leaves no room for medical uncertainty. When astronauts embark on long-duration missions—often months or years away from Earth—even minor health issues can escalate into serious emergencies.
This is why space agencies adopt an unusually proactive medical approach, including the preventive removal of wisdom teeth and sometimes the appendix, even when they pose no immediate problems on Earth. Even Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut to reach the International Space Station, had to get two of his wisdom teeth extracted.
Speaking at IIT Bombay, the IAF officer shared, “Your dental health is extremely important. You are trained medically to take care of any emergency or any situation that comes on board…But if there is one thing you cannot do, it is dental surgery. So they make sure that you will not have any problem before you launch” “If you want to be an astronaut, you have to give up on your wisdom,” Shukla added.
“Both wisdom teeth and the appendix are known for their unpredictability,” says Dr Hamid Raihan, Sr. Consultant & Head – Dental Services, Asian Hospital.
“They may not cause trouble for years, but when they do, the onset is often sudden and requires urgent care—which is simply not available during space missions. ” Wisdom teeth are particularly prone to infection due to trapped food particles and bacterial buildup, while appendicitis can occur without warning. The longer the mission, the higher the risk of such an acute episode, Dr Raihan explains.
“Space medicine follows a philosophy of risk elimination rather than treatment,” he adds. “By removing potential sources of infection in advance, astronauts are medically optimised to minimise avoidable emergencies that could threaten both their health and the success of the mission. ” How could conditions like appendicitis or impacted wisdom teeth become more dangerous in microgravity and space environments? Representational image (Photo: Freepik) Representational image (Photo: Freepik) Microgravity triggers significant physiological changes in the human body, which can worsen dental and abdominal conditions, explains Dr Raihan.
“In space, astronauts often experience facial congestion and altered saliva flow, which can intensify dental inflammation and discomfort. Coupled with bone density loss and a weakened immune response, the risk of infection increases while healing slows down.
” Story continues below this ad Appendicitis presents additional challenges in microgravity. Inflammation may not progress in a typical way, making early symptoms harder to recognise. Changes in pain perception and limited diagnostic tools raise the risk of delayed detection and rupture.
“An infection that might remain localised on Earth can spread more rapidly in space,” Dr Raihan adds. “Without timely intervention, a manageable condition can quickly become life-threatening.
” What medical limitations in space make routine surgeries nearly impossible during a mission? “Performing invasive procedures in microgravity is extraordinarily challenging,” says Dr Raihan. “Maintaining sterility, controlling bleeding, and ensuring precise surgical movements are all major obstacles.
” While astronauts receive basic medical training, complex surgeries require specialised skills, advanced imaging, anaesthesia, and post-operative care—resources that are severely limited in space, he adds. “Pain management options are restricted, and wound healing is slower due to microgravity-induced physiological changes.
” Story continues below this ad “In many cases, evacuation back to Earth could take days or even weeks,” Dr Raihan notes. “Given these constraints, preventive care remains the safest and most reliable medical strategy for space travel. ” DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.
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