Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between dental problems such as, periodontal pain, and scuba diving. Material and method: A questionnaire study was conducted using a cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire in five dive centres in Kuwait. The questionnaire consisted of 31 (multiple-choice and open ended) questions in three sections, 1) covering the demographic data, diving experience, dental and periodontal profiles of the scuba divers; 2) the response of the diver regarding his or her visits to the dentist, 3) the type of the pain experienced during the dive and whether it was a shooting pain, tooth sensitivity, pulsating pain, dull ache, throbbing, or pressure pain. One final question related to the diver’s response regarding visiting the dentist after a dental problem and the treatment provided. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS, software v. 22 (IBM UK, Guildford). Results: 170 questionnaires were handed out, 20 were not returned (88.2% response rate). 150 divers completed the questionnaire (104 Male [69.3%], 46 Female [30.7%], mean age 32.3 ± 7.2 years) were included for analysis. Nine subjects (6.3%) experienced ‘gum problems’ with shooting pain (n = 4) and tooth sensitivity (n = 3) being the most common problems (Fig. 1). Pain symptoms were not, however dependent on age, gender, or the frequency of diving. Toothache was more prevalent in divers ≤30 years of age (n = 136) (16.2%) with other types of pain e.g., headache (49%), sinus pain (32.2%), jaw pain (22.1%) also reported (Fig. 2). Conclusions: Periodontal pain was an uncommon complication during diving, toothache was more prevalent in divers ≤30 years of age (16.2%). The other dental problems experienced by divers were headache (49%), sinus pain (32.2%), jaw pain (22.1%) and toothache (16.2%)
