Traumatic Dental Injuries: Prevalence, First Aid, and Mouthguard Use in a Sample of Italian Kickboxing Athletes

Abstract

Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are a common complication in sports, with an overall prevalence ranging from 0.71% to 60%. Kickboxing is a high-risk combat sport for trauma to the facial region. Methods: A total of 142 5-to-65-year-old amateur athletes participated in the survey with a questionnaire that was released during their regular practice days. The questionnaire was structured into three parts: (1) questions about age, gender, type, and time of sports practice; (2) questions about dental injuries, personal experience, and awareness of emergency management, particularly about tooth avulsion; (3) questions about wearing a mouthguard for TDI prevention. Results: A total of 13 percent of athletes suffered a TDI while training or fighting. Regarding first aid, 61% of the participants in this survey are aware of the possibility of replanting a tooth after its avulsion; 10% believe that the tooth should be replanted within 15 min, and 37% of athletes believe that it should be kept wet. The mouthguard is known to the majority of athletes (94%), and 66% were informed by the coach; 68% of the athletes use it. Seventy-four percent of the mouthguards were purchased in a sports shop. Conclusions: A relatively low prevalence of TDIs was observed in players in the sample. A lack of information about the emergency management of tooth avulsion and about the type of mouthguard to wear emphasizes the importance of educational training by dentists to athletes and coaches.

Keywords

• sports
• martial arts
• kickboxing
• traumatic dental injuries
• tooth avulsion
• mouthguard