What Researchers Did
Researchers assessed the prevalence of oro-facial barotrauma among 166 scuba divers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, using a self-reported questionnaire.
What They Found
Out of 163 responding divers, the most frequent symptoms during diving were dry mouth (51.9%), clenching (32.5%), and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain (19.5%). After diving, dry mouth (22.7%) was most common, followed by clenching and facial pain (16.9%). Commercial mouthpieces were potentially linked to more symptoms compared to customized types.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian divers experiencing dry mouth, clenching, or TMJ pain during or after diving should be aware these are common, often temporary symptoms. While most do not require dental intervention, considering a customized mouthpiece might help alleviate some discomfort.
Canadian Relevance
There is no direct Canadian connection mentioned in this study, as it was conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Study Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data from a specific sample of divers, which may introduce recall bias and limit generalizability.