Level of awareness concerning dental trauma and its prevention among sportspersons in Chennai

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to assess the awareness of dental trauma and its prevention and management among sportspersons in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the sportspersons in Chennai. About 205 sportspersons answered the questionnaire regarding information about the knowledge of the incidence of dental injuries, knowledge of management of dental injuries, and orofacial protective devices and their role in the prevention of dental injuries. The data were subjected to statistical analysis. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, version 21, acquired by IBM. Results: A total of 205 answered the questionnaire regarding knowledge of dental trauma in sportspersons. 63.4% of sportspersons had reported the incidence of dental injuries in their sport. 41% of sportspersons reported that they would use tap water as storage medium and 23.4% would use patient's own saliva as a storage medium for avulsed tooth. 94.1% of the study population thinks awareness about dental injuries and its safety measures is necessary for every sportsperson. Conclusion: The findings of the study provide the insight into the awareness of dental trauma and its prevention and management among sportspersons Chennai. Most of the sportspersons lack information about professionally fitted mouth guards and the source of its availability. Therefore, to improve their basic knowledge about traumatic dental injury and their managements, more emphasis regarding dental trauma can be given during their training period.

Keywords

• awareness
• dental trauma
• mouth guards
• sportspersons