title: The prevalence of oro-facial barotrauma among scuba divers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Barotrauma is a physical injury that results from ambient pressure changes during flying, diving or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of oro-facial barotrauma among a sample of scuba divers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for the study were collected through a self-reported questionnaire that was distributed to 166 divers. The questionnaire was divided into two parts, in which the first part contained demographic data and the second part consists of multiple choice questions and a few open-ended questions discussing the different signs and symptoms of orofacial barotraumas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred-and-sixty-three divers responded. The most frequent symptoms during diving were dry mouth (51.9%), followed by clenching (32.5%) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain (19.5%), while the most frequent symptoms after diving were dry mouth (22.7%) followed by clenching and facial pain (16.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clenching and dry mouth were common findings but are temporary in nature and do not warrant any dental intervention. TMJ and facial pain were also reported but were temporary. The use of commercial mouthpieces during diving may be related to more symptoms when compared with customized types.
authors.affiliation: Operative Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, P O Box 80209, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia Phone: +96-(0)612-640-3443 ext. 21012, E-mail: myousf@kau.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Mohammed K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Yousef
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah.
authors.forename: Abeer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Assiri
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah.
authors.forename: Abdulaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hakeem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D004242:Diving / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014313:Trismus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Barotrauma; dental; pain; scuba diving; underwater medicine