(01-04-08) Rafael Vicetto, a young and renowned physiotherapist, is very fond of diving. In his writings, he will teach us about some health problems that we can suffer when enjoying a dive.    

Complications of dental and jaw problems can increase during diving and may put into difficulties the dive and endanger our health. Here there are some of the most common problems, such as sensitivity, bruxism, endodontics, implants and muscle aches in the area of the mouth and neck.

In dentistry, we call sensitivity the discomfort caused by cold and sweet when we suffer from a gingival recession that exposes the root of the tooth, whose exterior area is highly porous and thin. In this way, the nerve is unprotected and very close to the surface. It hurts and the pain can increase during the dive.

The sensitivity may have different causes. The age of the person, the bruxism or screeching of teeth, result in erosion of teeth and increase the sensitivity of them. It is important to monitor the possible periodontal lesions; our dentist will advise us, and, in case we have pyorrhea, which causes an excessive increase in sensitivity, he or she will prescribe desensitising varnishes or other means to control and eliminate the painful effects of these diseases, and also night personalized splints to eliminate that bruxism and minimize muscle and bone injuries.

A TIMELY VISIT TO THE DENTIST AVOID SURPRISES

Before a dive, consulting the dentist is advised in case of having temporary teeth, since they can seriously complicate the dive. They are used for a minimum period of time after being removed easily and quickly. In these cases the prosthesis are not fixed, so diving is not recommended.

Diving is neither recommended in case of receiving endodontic treatment that requires several sessions and that may retain air bubbles that became bigger during the ascent to the surface due to the porosity and permeability of the materials.

    Prostheses are artificial devices to replace the absent teeth. They can be fixed and safe provided there are no gas leaks in the anchor cement. With removable prostheses, the main risk is to move or even swallow them during the dive. We must discard them or fit them tightly.

Acquiring an anatomical and personalized jet regulator may help a lot to avoid the erosion of the soft tissues around the lips and the pain caused by the prolonged muscular effort while holding the usual mouthpieces.

PERSONALIZED MOUTHPIECE AND RELAXED JAW

We are going to explain now the muscular lesions in mouth and neck that can appear because of diving. They result from the effort to keep the regulator in the mouth during the dive, experiencing muscle tension in the jaw. The best solution is to use personalized anatomical mouthpieces and learn to relax during the dive. We will enjoy double.

Another type of muscle pain or myalgia is caused by the continuous hyperextension in the neck and the inversion of the arms in a non anatomical position. It would be a good idea to rest during the dive if we are tired, to stretch the muscles of the neck before starting the dive and to try to get stronger by some specific exercises recommended by our physiotherapist.

In case of possible herniated cervical we should consult the physiotherapist before this activity, in order to improve the overall condition of the neck and keep it in good health. The specialist can eliminate the associated lesions and improve the condition of the neck.

In case of recent absence of teeth, large reconstructions, jaw pain, enamel fractures and muscle injuries in the neck, it is recommended to refrain from practising our favourite sport to avoid the risks and possible mishaps that may exist because of diving.

Text: Rafael Vicetto
www.fisiovicetto.com