Research Says SCUBA Divers Would Benefit from Dental Visit

If you are an avid diver and have been experiencing mouth pain after diving, you are not alone. A University of Buffalo study (Prevalence of Dental Problems in Recreational SCUBA Divers) revealed over 40 percent of divers experience symptoms such as jaw and gum pain, broken fillings, and loosened crowns.

The study included divers in a wide age range (from 18-65), interviewing 100 divers in all. While many of the divers experienced the array of symptoms mentioned above, the most common being tooth pain. This most likely happens from atmospheric pressure changes. This condition is known as barodontalgia.

Additionally, roughly 20 percent of the study participants reported jaw pain and/or mouth pain related to holding their regulator too tightly in their mouths during the dive.

The author of the study, Dr. Vinisha Ranna, a diver himself, says that all divers should “consider consulting with their dentist before diving if they recently received dental care.”

He continued, “Divers are required to meet a standard of medical fitness before certification, but there are no dental health prerequisites.”

He further added, “Considering the air supply regulator is held in the mouth, any disorder in the oral cavity can potentially increase the diver’s risk of injury. A dentist can look and see if the diving is affecting a patient’s oral health.”

While Dr. Ranna’s initial study was published in 2016, he is doing a follow-up study that will involve ten times the amount of participants as his initial study. The increased number of participants will no doubt lend more credibility and will hopefully alert divers to the concerns they need to have about their oral care when they are actively diving.

Something else for divers to consider is these oral problems are also warning signs for other health problems. For instance, mouth pain is sometimes affiliated with heart problems. The diving could be exacerbating existing conditions and making the symptoms more pronounced.

Hopefully, though, if you are experiencing some of these symptoms, the cause can be addressed with a little more training from your diving instructor and some helpful tips from your dentist.

If you are an active diver and starting to experience mouth/jaw pain, it is definitely advised to see your dentist. But, before you go, check out our New Hampshire discount dental plans for individuals, families, and business owners that can save you as much as 20 percent off your dental care. For more information, please click here.

Photo Courtesy of bhinddalenes via Creative Commons License