A diving physician's experience of dental barotrauma during hyperbaric chamber exposure: case report


ALTUN B. D., Sumen S. G., DUMLU A.

DIVING AND HYPERBARIC MEDICINE, cilt.52, sa.1, ss.63-65, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 52 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.28920/dhm52.1.63-65
  • Dergi Adı: DIVING AND HYPERBARIC MEDICINE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.63-65
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Barodontalgia, Case reports, Hyperbaric oxygen treatment, Pain, OXYGEN THERAPY, BARODONTALGIA, DENTISTRY, FRACTURE
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Previous cases of dental barotrauma have been reported in pilots and divers. We report a case of dental barotrauma and barodontalgia in a diving physician accompanying patients during hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and due to pressure changes in the hyperbaric chamber. The physician developed sharp pain localised to the right maxillary molars but radiating to the face, ear and head during decompression from 243 kPa (2.4 atmospheres absolute). The pain intensified following completion of decompression and was consistent with irreversible pulpitis. Clinical examination and panoramic radiography suggested fracture of a heavily restored tooth due to barotrauma. This was managed by tooth extraction. The physician subsequently discontinued accompanying the patients during their hyperbaric oxygen treatment sessions. Dentists and maxillofacial surgery specialists suggest waiting for a minimum of four weeks or until the tooth socket and/or oral tissue has healed sufficiently to minimise the risk of infection or further trauma before exposure to further pressure change. Although seemingly rare, and despite the comparatively slow pressure changes, dental barotrauma can occur in hyperbaric chamber occupants.