Dental Question

[zuzanne]

My hubby is looking at having remaining upper 8 teeth pulled and dentures made. Teeth due to periodontal desease can't be saved. Too much bone & gum loss. How long will it take from start to finish before he can dive safely again? Also do you leave dentures in while diving or take them out? Sorry if that sounds funny but he really needs to know.
Suki

 

[DocVikingo]

I am alerting our diving dental maven, Laurence Stein, DDS, of your post.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Hi Suki,

Sorry to hear about your husband's dental problems.

Normally, an IMMEDIATE denture is fabricated for a case like this. It is inserted immediately after extractions. It quickly becomes loose and needs relining.

He should wait to dive until he is comfortable with the denture and able to hold a regulator in his mouth. 1-2 weeks for "simple" extractions and 2-3 weeks for "surgical" extractions is usually sifficient. Longer if there are complications.

At about 6 months, the immediate denture is relined or a new permanent denture is fabricated.

Diving without the denture is recommended to avoid blocked breathing underwater if the denture becomes lose. Most divers with dentures CHOOSE to dive with the denture however--not recommended but less costly than a custom regulator bite. A U.S. Divers Comfobite regulator bite can be used without teeth.

Contact http://www.scuba-doc.com/ and look up the dental section...Edentulous Diver, for the technique.

Feel free to contact me with a PM. If you have more questions I'll give you my address.

Good luck

Laurence Stein DDS
:doctor:

Disclaimer
(No representations are made that in any way offer a diagnosis, treatment or cure for any illness or condition, either discussed or implied. Answers to questions are offered as information only and should always be used in conjunction with advice from your personal diving physician/dentist. I take no responsibility for any conceivable consequence, which might be related to any visit to this site.)

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Hi Suki,

I just check the link I gave you and much of the technique is missing. Contact Scubadoc@scubadoc.com and ask the question. He may be able to refer you to the technique.

Larry Stein

 

[zuzanne]

Dr. Stein, thank you so much for your kind help. I have bookmarked the web page for him to follow up on when he gets home from work. He is really not liking this but he has to get it done before his dental problems get any worse.

Thank you again,
Suki