Training to become a scuba diver? Start at the dentist

Scuba divers may want to stop by their dentist ' s office before taking their next plunge. A new pilot study found that 41 percent of divers experienced dental symptoms in the water, according to new research from the University at Buffalo.Due to the constant jaw clenching and fluctuations in the atmospheric pressure underwater, divers may experience symptoms that range from tooth, jaw and gum pain to loosened crowns and broken dental fillings. Recreational divers should consider consulting with their dentist before diving if they recently received dental care, says Vinisha Ranna, BDS, lead author and a student in the UB School of Dental Medicine." Divers are required to meet a standard of medical fitness before certification, but there are no dental health prerequisites, " says Ranna, who is also a certified stress and rescue scuba diver." 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 diving is affecting a patient ' s oral health. " The study, " Prevalence of dental problems in recreational SCUBA divers, " was published last month in theBritish Dental Journal. The research was inspired by Ranna ' s first experience with scuba diving in 2013. Although she enjoyed being in the water, she couldn ' t help but notice a squeezing sensation in her teeth, a condition known as barodontalgia. Published research on dental symptoms experienced while scuba div...
Source: Dental Technology Blog - Category: Dentistry Source Type: news