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Prevalence of temporomandibular dysfunction in a group of scuba divers
1Prosthetics Department, Kings College London, UK. richardaldridge@bsac.co.uk
Background:
Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) has been reported to be a common problem in divers, with a prevalence of up to 68%. No evidence for this is available.
Objective:
To investigate the prevalence of TMD in divers.
Method:
Sixty three subjects were asked to retrospectively complete a questionnaire on symptoms of TMD after diving in warm and cold water areas and in daily life.
Results:
The prevalence of TMD was greater in female divers. The prevalence of TMD while diving was about 26%, comparable to that experienced in daily life.
Conclusion:
Improvements in mouthpiece design and lighter demand valves mean that TMD is now probably exacerbated by diving rather than caused by it.
