VeniVidi:
I am about to undergo an orthodontic treatment in the months to follow and will have to wear braces as well as retainer wires thereafter.
My question to anybody that can help me out is:
(1) What material or alloy are they made of?
(2) If titanium is involved, would that cause harm (i.e. ignition, combustion et al.) when breathing oxygen as a nitrox safety gas and decompression mixture, respectively?
I would be grateful for answers as I am a bit afraid that wearing retainer wires could affect my degree of freedom for diving (choice of gas, that is) tremendously.
Hi VeniVidi,
The composition of your orthodontic appliance has already been answered correctly. Neither stainless steel nor NiTi represent an ignition or combustion hazard during diving activities. Many metals including zinc, aluminum, iron, and titanium are combustible when finely divided in a powdered or wire form. Some of these metals, when powdered, can spontaneously combust with O2 at atmospheric pressure and in the presence of some moisture. There are other metals that will spontaneously combust at atmospheric pressure in solid form such as potassium. Solid sodium will combust in contact with water. However, the fact that combustion can occur with certain metals under certain special conditions does not mean that the same reaction will occur in either their solid or alloyed form.
Aluminum is one of the main components of the solid rocket fuel used in the space shuttle. Half of the salt water you might be diving in is made of sodium. I doubt, however, that you are concerned that your dive tank may be made of aluminum and that it may be in contact with O2 at a PP of 1000 psi and in a concentration in excess of 30 % or that perhaps you may be diving in the ocean. Steel tanks are galvanized with zinc and made from iron.
Both stainless steel and, certainly the NiTi wire contain nickel. There is a very slight chance that a person may have or develope an allergic to that component. The allergy is more common in women because they are exposed to nickel when they wear jewelry that is not strictly precious metal. Gold or sliver plated "base metal" earings, rings or necklasses. Even "hypoallergenic" pierced earing studs may contain nickel and cause an inflammatory skin reaction when wearing the earings.
Nickel allergy usually manifests as an erythematous, swollen, possibly suppurative area on the skin. Pierced ears may appear infected an have an exudate or crust around the earing studs. In the mouth, the tissue in direct contact with the nickel containing metal may appear red and be sore. If the gums are involved, they will be swollen.
Nickel allergy is very rare and I personally have never seen it associated with orthodontic appliances. I have seen it associated with stainless steel removable partial dentures or cemented porcelain-fused-to-metal (non-precious alloy) crowns in direct contact with the gums. It is the reason that I do not personally use non-precious alloys for permanent crowns or bridges.
Your biggest headache with diving and braces will be the potential for abrasions of the insides of your lips that can result from the pressure of the mouthpiece against your lips. This pressure compresses the lips against the rough edges of the brackets that hold the wires.
Some divers will use a soft wax they can get from the orthodontist. You may also be able to find pliable silicone "ear plugs" at the pharmacy. Mould a small piece around the orthodontic wires on your front teeth. In a pinch, well chewed chewing gum may work. All of these methods represent an aspiration hazard.
The US Divers ComfoBite mouthpiece may apply less pressure to the lips.
You shouldn't have any concerns about getting your braces and diving...just remember to remove the wax before going out on the town.:11:
Regards,
Laurence Stein DDS
