Use of mouthguard rates among university athletes during sport activities in Erzurum, Turkey

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes of mouthguard users in Erzurum, Turkey. The participants' appreciation in the use of protective devices, such as mouthguards, during sport activities was also evaluated. In this study, a 10-item questionnaire was distributed to 50 coaches and a 10-item questionnaire was distributed to 768 university athletes of three different sport modalities (basketball, soccer and volleyball) in the Atatürk University Sport Competitions. The Sport Competitions are composed of 20 faculty, except the faculty of dentistry. The result of the coaches' questionnaires indicated that none of the athletes used mouthguards while participating in sports. Of the coaches, 64% had seen orofacial trauma in their athletes during sport activities and 76% believed that mouthguards prevented oral injuries. Of the coaches, 76% reported that university athletes should use mouthguards in sport activities. The result of the university athletes' questionnaires revealed that the mouthguard utilization rate was 0%. Of all players, 78.1% were males (age 17-29) and 21.9% were females (age 18-23). Of all players, 7.31% had suffered from one or more type of oral injury while not wearing mouthguards. The results indicate that in Turkey, the use of mouthguards is rare in sports. It should be a combined duty of dentists, sports physicians, and coaches to encourage the use of mouthguards during training and sport activities. Doctors and dentists need to recommend a more intensive education of students in sports medicine and sports dentistry.

Knowledge of sports participants about dental emergency procedures and the use of mouthguards

“…A previous study demonstrates that maxillary permanent central incisors were the most frequently traumatized teeth and that crown fractures were the most frequent type of dental injury (13). The common injuries reported in another study were soft tissue lacerations and tooth fracture (4).…”

“…Dentists as well as other healthcare professionals should educate players, parents and coaches to promote the use of mouthguards in professional and amateur sports, especially for adolescents. Dental professionals, especially paediatric dentists, should regularly question patients' parents about sports participation, inform them about orofacial injury risk and suggest the use of a mouthguard .…”

“…Studies on large groups have shown that sports account for 31% of such trauma in adults and children. When the face and head are involved, this often results in dental or oral trauma (3,4).…”

Traumatic dental injuries in Turkish children, Istanbul

“…Falls appear to be the most common factor in many countries (14,20). Wearing a mouthguard and/or helmet may be helpful for prevention in case of bicycle accidents or during professional or amateur sporting activities and should be promoted to the general public (21).…”

Rugby athletes’ awareness and compliance in the use of mouthguards in the North West of Italy

“…Dental injuries are probably the most common orofacial injuries sustained during sports activities (1), in particular, following full‐contact aggressive sports such as rugby (2–6).…”