Hi
I was hoping I could get some advice regarding diving and wisdom teeth. I have an impacted wisdom that I had quite a lot of infections in a year or so ago, however it calmed down by itself and I chose not to have it removed (probably the wrong decision in hindsight!). I have now booked a dive trip (my first ever diving experience!) to Mozambique and am due to fly next week. I went to my dentist and had a full check up/x-ray and she found no issues, however shortly after this I developed an infection in the gum surrounding my wisdom tooth - I can also feel it in the muscles around the area. After going straight back to the dentist, she has put me on a course of strong antibiotics to clear up the infection - the last day of the antibiotics is also the same day that I fly on.
My dentist was aware that I was diving, however I guess she has no experience with diving as she did not mention and risks and as I only realised the risks when I googled it and scared myself! Although I cannot cancel my trip, I obviously want to put my health first and have no intention of diving with an infection. I plan make sure it is fully cleared up before diving and my dentist has also given me spare antibiotics so that if I get another infection I can stop diving and take the antibiotics until it has cleared up. I also plan to take plenty of mouth wash and antiseptic gel to keep the area clean.
The questions I have are as follows:
- Is diving with an impacted wisdom tooth dangerous in itself (even without an infection)? Whilst I have not had an infection that required antibiotics for a year or so before now, the gum around that area is often a bit inflamed.
- Is managing the infection with antibiotics an ok plan to get me through the four week diving course providing I am sensible with it? Although I am really excited about the holiday and learning to dive, I really don't want to risk my health, especially in such a remote area.
- I finish the course of antibiotics two days before I dive (although it may actually be longer because I am doing my open water padi so I'm not sure whether we will actually dive on the first day). Providing I have no pain and the infection seems to be cleared up, is this an ok time frame to start diving after the antibiotics?
Thank you very much - I would really appreciate any advice you can offer. I have been looking forward to this trip for this for so long and I really don't want it to be ruined because I was too silly to google the effect of an impacted wisdom tooth earlier.
I was hoping I could get some advice regarding diving and wisdom teeth. I have an impacted wisdom that I had quite a lot of infections in a year or so ago, however it calmed down by itself and I chose not to have it removed (probably the wrong decision in hindsight!). I have now booked a dive trip (my first ever diving experience!) to Mozambique and am due to fly next week. I went to my dentist and had a full check up/x-ray and she found no issues, however shortly after this I developed an infection in the gum surrounding my wisdom tooth - I can also feel it in the muscles around the area. After going straight back to the dentist, she has put me on a course of strong antibiotics to clear up the infection - the last day of the antibiotics is also the same day that I fly on.
My dentist was aware that I was diving, however I guess she has no experience with diving as she did not mention and risks and as I only realised the risks when I googled it and scared myself! Although I cannot cancel my trip, I obviously want to put my health first and have no intention of diving with an infection. I plan make sure it is fully cleared up before diving and my dentist has also given me spare antibiotics so that if I get another infection I can stop diving and take the antibiotics until it has cleared up. I also plan to take plenty of mouth wash and antiseptic gel to keep the area clean.
The questions I have are as follows:
- Is diving with an impacted wisdom tooth dangerous in itself (even without an infection)? Whilst I have not had an infection that required antibiotics for a year or so before now, the gum around that area is often a bit inflamed.
- Is managing the infection with antibiotics an ok plan to get me through the four week diving course providing I am sensible with it? Although I am really excited about the holiday and learning to dive, I really don't want to risk my health, especially in such a remote area.
- I finish the course of antibiotics two days before I dive (although it may actually be longer because I am doing my open water padi so I'm not sure whether we will actually dive on the first day). Providing I have no pain and the infection seems to be cleared up, is this an ok time frame to start diving after the antibiotics?
Thank you very much - I would really appreciate any advice you can offer. I have been looking forward to this trip for this for so long and I really don't want it to be ruined because I was too silly to google the effect of an impacted wisdom tooth earlier.
