SCUBA Diving After Surgery - Will this ever be possible?

[RMF7825]

Wondering if there are any divers on the board that have experience with diving after orthognathic surgery. Is this even possible? How long do you have to wait etc?

[Minerva]

Why wouldn't it be possible once everything is healed?

[RMF7825]

What I have been told is that biting down on the mouth piece can put pressure on the TMJ joint and cause problems as well as the pressure of the dive itself.

[Bullfighter]

I wouldn't try it the month after surgery, but "ever" is a long time. Once the bone is properly healed, I would assume you could swing from a trapeze while holding the bar with your teeth.

I have heard it takes about 6 months for the bone to really heal, but you should probably ask your surgeon before diving.

[aussiere]

I am a Divemaster and worked at this professionally. It was one of the first questions I asked. I had surgery on both jaws and was told 2 months, but he would prefer 3 months. The jaws are fully healed at 2 months, but the concern is with the valsalva method of equalization. Basically, when the upper jaw is operated on the sinuses are affected and using the valsalva technique could have a negative effect on the sinuses. To be safe, I would wait the 3 months if you had upper jaw surgery.

Hope this helps.

[RMF7825]

Interesting. I never thought of that. I can imagine that the sinuses would be affected by upper jaw surgery.

[ready4change]

Did either of you dive with braces? If so, was there any discomfort or problems?

[RMF7825]

Orthodontist told me that special (custom?) mouth pieces can be made which might be of help with TMJ issues. Anyone have experience with these?

[aussiere]

I have been diving with braces for 2 years. I do not have any problems, I use an Aqualung Legend regulator. Today will be my first day of diving after jaw surgery in May. Although I am only going to be doing a Discover Scuba class in a pool (I am the instructor), I can't wait to get back in the water, miss it so much. Yahoo!

I don't have TMJ so I can't speak to joint issues. Good luck and good diving.

Re

[RMF7825]

I think the TMJ problems might be exacerbated by biting down on the mouthpiece while diving. Can happen whether you've had jaw surgery or not. After surgery everything has moved so it might be more symptomatic I suppose. The sinus issue that someone else mentioned seems like another thing. Enjoy your dive!

[samoorelaw]

I never dove without braces before (unless you count the few pool sessions I had in my open water class just days before my braces were installed), and I handle it just fine. However, I can't wait to dive again because I have since had jaw surgery, and before the surgery I was unable to bite down on the right side of my mouth and now I can: while my bite is still a bit open on the right side, the elastics are doing their job in closing it and holding a regulator in my mouth will be much easier! I also have the Aqua Lung Legend regulator, and the comfo-bite mouthpiece that comes with it is perfect for those who wear braces: less jaw fatigue and it's even better than the Sea Cure custom mouthpiece (at least for me).