What significant safety risk can occur if a diver proceeds with diving with a known, loose restoration?
Potential dislodgement of the piece at depth, risking an uncontrolled air leak or mask flooding.
Diving while aware of a loose or failing restoration (like a crown or filling) introduces significant functional risk beyond just pain. The fluctuating pressures encountered during descent and ascent put mechanical stress on these marginally secured pieces. If a restoration becomes completely dislodged while the diver is underwater, the resulting gap exposes underlying sensitive tooth structure directly to water flow and may create a pathway for water intrusion. Critically, a loose filling or crown fragment could potentially lodge in the regulator hose or cause an obstruction, leading to an uncontrolled air leak or mask flooding, turning a minor dental issue into an immediate equipment safety concern that jeopardizes the dive.
