Hi Melissa,

Thank you for your question.

It is recommended to remove dentures during Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). As you correctly pointed out, dentures and removable dental prostheses can present a choking hazard, particularly in emergency situations such as seizures, hypoglycemia, pneumothorax, or any circumstance where the patient may become unconscious. In such events, dentures could obstruct emergency intervention efforts.

Additionally, adhesive sometimes used for denture placement may not be compatible with the chamber environment.

To address concerns regarding communication, patient education and reassurance are key. It may be helpful to establish hand gestures or other non-verbal cues with the patient before the treatment begins, ensuring effective communication throughout the procedure.

For your reference, I have included the following patient education resources:

• Communication Cards

• HBO Patient Education:  Prohibited Item Reminder

I hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reach out with any further questions.