What do Turkish sports sciences students know about dental trauma and mouthguards? A descriptive study

Abstract

Objective: Sports-related dental-orofacial-injuries can be reduced significantly through training on primary prevention and using proper equipment before engaging in sporting activities. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge regarding dental trauma and prevention by mouthguards among the students in the Faculty of Sport Sciences. Materials and Method: This was a descriptive study conducted at Ankara, Gazi, and Hacettepe Universities. Although intended to include all students at the faculties (N=3097), only those who were at the faculty and volunteered (28.2%) on the day the data were gathered participated. Data were gathered via a questionnaire comprising 31 questions on sociodemographic characteristics, dental trauma history, mouthguard use, and knowledge of dental trauma. Results: In total, 875 students with a mean age of 22.5±2.9 (60.3% male) participated. Of these students, 20.6% had dental trauma history, 72.0% had first aid and emergency training, and 20.9% had oral dental injuries training. Of the students, 69.5% had heard about mouthguards, although only 19.7% of these had used them. Mouthguards were mostly used in professional sports activities such as far-eastern sports and ice hockey. The average number of true answers out of ten dental trauma-related questions was 2.75±1.68 and 66.6% stated they wished to learn more about the topic. Conclusion: Results showed a lack-of-knowledge about both dental trauma and mouthguards and inadequate use of mouthguards in sports activities. Therefore, basic information about these topics should be implemented in the curriculum to instruct students before they graduate.

Keywords

• knowledge
• mouthguards
• students
• sports injuries
• tooth avulsion
• trauma