Wisdom teeth and Freediving.

[arca_tern]

I recently had the pleasant experience of having my left-side wisdom teeth pulled, with the right side soon to follow. I had just got my weight belt and minima in the mail, and have a fat paycheque coming, and am very dissappointed to hear from my local dive shop that DAN says not to dive for a full four to six weeks?! after getting your wisdom teeth removed.
I was under a local anestetic and didn't even need to take a day off, and was play soccer with vigor a day or two later. It was completely routine, no cutting away of tissue or haveing to cut the jaw or break the tooth. It has mainly healed, the stitches are coming out by themselves and will be taken out later today by my dentist.

Some of the reasons DAN lists aer nitrogen interaction with the medication (painkillers that I didn't even need to take), and infection. If I am diving with my mouth closed should this even be an issue?

I have trained and bought new gear and don't want to miss the dive season. Any advice?
arca_tern

[billieball]

I am sure others on here have way more knowledge than I...but one of the reasons DAN probably has this suggestion (4-6 wks no diving after tooth extraction) is because you now have what is essentially an open cavity in your head. This is therefore an area whereby pressure could build up (just as in your sinus cavities, yada, yada), and perhaps damage could be caused (how would you "clear" a hole where a tooth once was?). Also, a theory I've heard...though it does sound a bit far-fetched...is that any time teeth are removed, there runs the risk of barotrauma when diving. The cavity/hole could lead to the entry of gases into the blood stream. Anyway, I hope other folks on here have more to suggest to you. DAN usually errs on the side of caution. But, seriously, be careful with your health. A couple of weeks is a short while when compared to certain longer-lasting damages, right?
Cheers,
Billie

[Erik]

I'd think twice if you were SCUBA diving, but I'd head for the water today with no worries as a freediver. If you get a quick squeeze while freediving you just come up if there's any discomfort. You'd do that anyway!

[Bill]

A long time ago when I had the two lower wisdom teeth removed one morning I called the one man that I know who is an expert spearfisherman and wisdom tooth remover for his opinion. He 'let' me go diving that afternoon with some precautions. Things are different today but I'd sure ask the doctor when he removes the stitches.

[arca_tern]

Thanks for the quick reply. I am feeling amazing, and the doctor wasn't sure when I asked her as far as infections and diving limitations are. My right side wisdoms will be removed in another 2 weeks, but I am pretty sure I will dive before then.

What were the limitations that he placed on you?
thanks,
arca_tern

[Bill]

He seemed to be worried most about bleeding so I took a repair kit. I also took the pills and had used them before. My hip doctor had to cancel surgeries for months last year because he picked up a nasty leg infection from a coral scrape when he had a big wipeout. At the very least be careful and take it easy.

[Michael]

What about broken bones? I have a fracture on my small forearm bone. Anyone ever dive with a fractured bone?

[sucinimad]

I had my tooth removed on Wednesday and I was freediving on Saturday. Recalling the experience, I don't think there were any problems with the tooth (or lack thereof). I did have sinus problem. Immediately after a duckdive, I would feel pressure between my eyes/middle forehead. Clearing took care of that problem. Also, 20m was the deepest dive for that day; not because the tooth presented any problems but because I was spearfishing. Of course, you should do it with cautions.