Management Considerations for Tooth Extraction in a 70-Year-Old Survivor of the Hydrogen Bomb Test on the Lucky Dragon No. 5

TL;DR

This paper discusses the tooth extraction of a 70-year-old survivor of a 1954 hydrogen bomb test, highlighting the management of radiation-related health risks.

Contribution

It provides insights into managing dental procedures in long-term radiation-exposed individuals without observed complications.

Findings

No systemic complications occurred after tooth extraction in a radiation-exposed individual.

Post-extraction bleeding, infection, and wound healing failure were not observed.

Careful perioperative management is crucial for radiation-exposed patients.

Abstract

The Lucky Dragon No. 5 (Daigo Fukuryu Maru) was a Japanese tuna trawler exposed to radioactive fallout from the Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb test conducted by the United States on March 1, 1954, at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. All 23 crew members suffered acute radiation sickness as a result of the exposure.

In this paper, we present a case of the management of one of the Lucky Dragon No. 5 crew members who underwent tooth extraction 70 years after the nuclear test. Due to the patient's systemic exposure to radiation, various complications were anticipated following tooth extraction. However, systemic complications, post-extraction bleeding, local infection, and wound healing failure were not observed.

This article highlights the importance of careful systemic and local management during the perioperative period when treating radiation-exposed individuals, as well as the ongoing nuclear threat and the crucial role of oral surgeons in managing radiation-induced health issues and preparing for nuclear emergencies.

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