| Abstract [eng] |
Problem: Dental injuries are a pressing issue, often occurring during sports and negatively impacting an individual's health and quality of life. Athletes engaged in physical activity are at a higher risk of dental injuries. Insufficient knowledge about dental injury prevention and the importance of protective measures can lead to a higher incidence of injuries. To reduce the prevalence and consequences of injuries, it is crucial to assess athletes' level of knowledge, their attitudes toward preventive measures, and the need for education. Aim: To assess and compare the knowledge of members of VU Health and Sports Centre, involved in contact and non-contact sports, about dental injuries and their prevention using mouthguards. Tasks: 1. To determine and compare the level of knowledge about dental injuries among members of VU Health and Sports Centre engaged in contact and non-contact sports. 2. To determine and compare the attitudes among members of VU Health and Sports Centre engaged in contact and non-contact sports towards mouthguards and their use. 3. To assess and compare whether factors such as gender, age, duration and frequency of sports participation, previous facial, jaw or dental injuries, use of mouthguards, and the frequency of their use during training or competitions influence knowledge about dental injuries among contact and non-contact sport participants. 4. To find out the attitudes of members of the VU Health and Sports Centre towards their knowledge of dental injuries and the need for dental injury education. Material and methods: A voluntary, anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted from September 2024 to January 2025. The participants were divided into two groups based on the nature of their activity – individuals engaged in contact and non-contact sports. Data were collected using a mixed method: paper questionnaires and online surveys via the Google Forms platform. The questionnaire consisted of four main sections: 1) sociodemographic questions; 2) evaluation of knowledge about dental injuries; 3) self-assessment of knowledge about dental injuries and willingness to participate in educational programs; 4) personal experience with dental and orofacial injuries and aspects of mouthguard usage. Statistical data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 26.0. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: A total of 157 respondents participated in the study, of which 36.3% (N=57) engage in contact sports, and 63.7% (N=100) engage in non-contact sports. The median knowledge score of all athletes regarding dental injuries was 5 (IQR=3) out of a possible 11 points. The median knowledge score of contact sport participants (M=6, IQR=4) was statistically significantly higher than that of the non-contact sport group (M=5, IQR=3) (p<0.001). The prevailing level of knowledge in both contact and non-contact sport groups was low. 91.2% (N=52) of contact sport participants know how a protective sports mouthguard works, compared to 49% (N=49) of non-contact sport participants (p<0.001). 92.4% (N=145) of respondents believe that protective sports mouthguards help prevent dental injuries, but only 19.7% (N=31) of all respondents use a protective sports mouthguard, with significantly more contact sport participants using it (45.6%, N=26) compared to non-contact sport participants (5%, N=5) (p<0.001). Conclusion: Knowledge about dental trauma and the use of mouthguards among athletes at VU Health and Sports Centre who participate in contact and non-contact sports is insufficient. Contact sports athletes had better knowledge and higher mouthguard usage compared to non-contact sports participants. In the contact sports group, better knowledge was associated with older age, less frequent training, previous dental trauma, and mouthguard use. Education on emergency management of dental injuries and the use of mouthguards during sports is essential to reduce the prevalence and complications of dental trauma. |
