In addition to the thread that BillP mentioned above, you might want to visit this web page for more information on dental problems:
http://www.scuba-doc.com/dentprbs.html
To answer you specifically about trapped air - if this were present, you probably would know about it due to the possibility of pain from associated infection - which often accompanies an air pocket.
In addition, there is the possibility of causing a 'dry socket' with your tooth extraction site. A "dry socket" occurs when the blood clot is lost from an extraction site prematurely, exposing the underlying bone and fine nerve endings. The loss of the blood clot also allows continued bleeding and retards the healing process. The situation is very painful but essentially harmless, usually responding to impregnated gauze packs every 2-3 days over a two week period. Subsequent formation of new clot allows for eventual healing to take place, usually in about two months. Rinsing with non-alcoholic fluids twice a day for two weeks after impacted mandibular third molar removal significantly reduces the incidence of alveolar osteitis or dry socket.
Dry socket occurs in about 5% of tooth extractions, but in 33% of extractions in women on oral birth control pills, when the extraction is in the first 3 weeks of the cycle. In addition, there are some activities which may increase the propensity for dry socket formation... smoking, drinking carbonated beverages in the first 24 hours after surgery, spitting or drinking through a straw in that same time period. This latter Venturi effect of clot removal might also come into play with divers sucking air through a snorkel or regulator.
Loculated air pockets do not seem to be an important factor, as is the case with an incomplete root canal.
With the information above, one would suppose that a diver could
return to the sport anytime between two and eight weeks - depending upon the rate of healing, lack of infection and absence of pain as determined by his/her oral surgeon.
If you are having any problem at all with the socket, you should get the advice of your dentist about diving.
