Manal Abu Al Ghanam*
In light of the overwhelming popularity of Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) diving, general dental practitioners should be prepared to address complications arising as a result of diving and to provide patients with accurate information. The aim of this article was to introduce the concepts of diving medicine and dentistry to the dentist, and to supply the dental practitioner with some diagnostic tools as well as treatment guidelines. The literature was reviewed to address diving barotrauma (pressure induced injury related to an air space) to the head, face and oral regions, as well as scuba mouthpiece related oral conditions. The relevant conditions for dentists who treat divers include diving associated headache (migraine, tension type headache), barosinusitis and barotitis media (sinus and middle ear barotrauma, respectively), neuropathy, trigeminal (CN V) or facial (CN VII) nerve baroparesis (pressure induced palsy), dental barotrauma (barometric related tooth injury), barodontalgia (barometric related dental pain), mouthpiece associated herpes infection, pharyngeal gag reflex and temporomandibular joint disorder (dysfunction).