Dental trauma, prevention and knowledge concerning dental first-aid among Polish amateur boxers

Objectives: A significant increase in individuals participating in contact sports has been noticed. Boxing is one of the most traumatic of such sports. In spite of this, the level of awareness among young boxers as to prevention and dental first aid is very poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of dental injuries during trainings and competitions, the habit of wearing mouthguards, and the general level of awareness regarding prevention and first aid after tooth avulsion. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Our research was based on questionnaires given to 338 amateur boxers in Poland (divided into age groups: schoolboys, juniors, youth and seniors). Chi-square tests were used for the comparison of groups of respondents and relevant variables. Results: The survey showed that 35.9% of the participants had suffered some kind of dental trauma. A similar number of 36.5% had witnessed some kind of dental injury during training and 26.1% during tournaments. The survey showed that only 15.8% of all participants knew that immediate replantation was the best way of treating an avulsed tooth. Also, 93.7% of all those interviewed reported that they had worn mouth-formed mouthguards and only 5.7% custom-made mouthguards. Of all the survey's participants, 41.1% were definitely satisfied with their mouthguards. Conclusions: To improve knowledge regarding dental trauma in the boxing environment it is essential to emphasize the need for an extensive educational campaign. Preventive measures, especially in the form of good custom-made mouthguards, should be mandatory for all active individuals participating in contact sports. (C) 2012 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.