Flying with a broken tooth

[Lila Grace]

Hi,
I have to fly on a plane in a few weeks. I have a tooth that broke right down the middle last year due to an untreated cavity. It hasn't appeared to get any worse and there's no pain at all since it broke and there is no visible abcess or anything. I keep it clean the best I can and don't eat with that side. I know this isn't good, but dental care hasn't been an option and it won't be in the weeks leading up to the plane ride. I've read that you can get severe tooth pain called barodontalgia if you fly with a compromised tooth. I'm terrified of that happening. Is there any way to prevent that from happening?

 

[Gordon]

Barodontalgia doesn't really apply in your circumstance, it's only really a problem when there is air trapped in a small space, like under an old amalgam filling. even then it's exceedingly rare, I've only seen it once in nearly 50 years and that was on an oil rig diver who was subject to very large pressure changes.
It sounds like your tooth has fractured through the pulp chamber, so there's no confined space to cause problems.