Oral and maxillofacial aspects of diving medicine

Sport diving has witnessed explosive growth in the past decade, as 8.5 million people are certified in the United States alone. Even though scuba diving is a relatively safe sport, there are serious risks that all divers must consider. Beyond the better-known sequelae such as decompression sickness, middle ear dysfunction, and potential central nervous system effects, scuba diving also carries inherent risk to the maxillofacial region. Atypical facial pain, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, sinus barotraumas, and barodontalgia have all been reported by dentists and physicians treating military, commercial, and sport divers. Additionally, clinicians must address anatomic concerns for would-be divers, including cleft lip and palate, edentulism, or patients with pre-existing temporomandibular dysfunction, midfacial trauma, or craniomaxillofacial surgery. Health care professionals should have a thorough understanding of the implications of scuba diving for consultation and recommendation regarding diving fitness and the treatment of adverse effects of scuba diving to the maxillofacial region.