Faculty of sports science students, physical education teachers, and athletes' level of knowledge and attitude about mouthguards

OBJECTIVES

Traumatic dental injury occurs during sports competitions, training, and practice and can be prevented by the use of mouthguards. For this reason, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of sports science faculty students, physical education teachers, and athletes about mouthguards.

METHODS

Five hundred thirty-two participants were reached via social media. In the questionnaire consisting of 20 questions, questions about the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were asked in part 1, and questions about their level of knowledge and attitudes about the mouthguards were asked in part 2. Descriptive statistical analysis and a chi-square test were used to evaluate the data.

RESULTS

The number of people who think that mouthguards protect the athlete from traumatic dental injury is 381 (71.6%). The number of people who think that mouthguards affect the performance of the athlete is positively 228 (42.9%). To protect against traumatic dental injury, 51.48% of the participants preferred the custom-made; 39.3% of them preferred the boil-bite; 33.22% of them preferred the standard/stock type mouth guard; and 22.96% of them preferred the helmet, and 18.26% of them preferred the face mask.

CONCLUSIONS

The knowledge and attitude of sports science faculty students, physical education teachers, and athletes are low about mouthguards. Since these people who are engaged in sports have a high exposure to traumatic dental injuries, education should be given to increase their awareness about mouthguards.

The use of mouthguards and related factors among basketball players in Indonesia

BACKGROUND

Basketball is a sport with a higher injury rate. Regardless, few basketball players use mouthguards, which predisposes them to injuries. The use of mouthguards (UoM) could be related to several factors. This study aims to identify factors associated with UoM and to construct a model from the factors among basketball players in Indonesia.

METHODS

Through convenience sampling, a total of 286 among basketball players in Indonesia was included in this cross-sectional study. These participants filled out online a modified questionnaires regarding demographic and several factors related to UoM. The data was analyzed using chi-square test, independent-sample t-test, binary logistic regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM).

RESULTS

There were 286 players. 127 of them were males and 159 were females. Of them, 86 (30.1%) used mouthguards. Age, duration (in year), and weekly practicing basketball (in hour) were all significantly different between mouthguards users and non-users with (p = 0.005, p = 0.036 and p = 0.035), respectively. The UoM was significantly associated with level of awareness, injury experience, social support, and oral health professional (OHP) support with (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001), respectively. This result was also supported by a variety of variables' ORs, which range from 1.28 to 5.97. The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.27.

CONCLUSIONS

The UoM among basketball players in Indonesia was related to several factors, including the level of knowledge, level of awareness, duration of basketball career, injury experiences, social support, and oral health professionals' support which was constructed to propose a model. The model could explain 27% of the relationship between variables and UoM among Indonesian basketball players. This model will be useful for more comprehensive initiatives to promote oral health. It might be applicable for other countries as well as other sports communities / physical activities.

A new composite made from Luffa Cylindrica and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA): Mechanical and structural characterization for its use as Mouthguard (MG)

The use of Mouthguards (MGs) in contact sports is an interesting biomedical topic. MGs are protective personal equipment made principally from the copolymer ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). EVA is a thermoplastic whose thickness and rigidity are variables of concern for a good shock energy absorption capability in an MG. A natural fiber polymer composite is an interesting attempt for tackling these variables. Luffa cylindrica (luffa) is a sponge gourd that grows in 3D structure, which is used mainly as an ornament, a filling, or is trimmed for its use as a bathing product. In this work, a new EVA-luffa composite (EVLc) was made from commercial EVA sheets and luffa mat acting as reinforcement. FTIR, DSC, and TGA tests of EVA revealed its nature compared to literature data. A mechanical testing was applied to eight EVLc ASTM D-638 type V dumbbells (D1-D8) that showed low tensile strength values compared to EVA resistance ranges in literature. SEM images of EVLc's D1-D8 confirmed good adhesion between the reinforcement and matrix without surface treatment, and a descriptive statistical analysis indicated an intrinsic variation.

Sex-Based Differences in Symptoms with Mouthguard Use Following Pediatric Sport-Related Concussion

CONTEXT

Current evidence regarding the protective effect of mouthguard use on symptom severity in children and adolescents who sustain sport-related concussions is insufficient to make clinical recommendations.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the association between mouthguard-use and symptoms stratified by sex in the first 4-weeks after pediatric sport-related concussion. We hypothesized that mouthguard-use would be associated with lower symptoms.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Nine Canadian pediatric emergency departments (EDs).

PATIENTS

Children aged 5-18 years presenting ≤48 hours of concussion sustained during a collision or contact sport.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Injury characteristics were collected using the Acute Concussion Evaluation. Primary outcome measure was symptom score (0-6), measured using age-appropriate versions (5-7 years; 8-12 years; 13-18 years) of the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory. Independent variable was time postconcussion (at initial assessment, 1-, 2-, 4, weeks).

RESULTS

Of 1019 children (73% male; median [IQR] age=13.43[11.01,15.27] years), 42% wore a mouthguard at time of injury. There was no significant group by sex by time interaction for symptoms (χ23=0.27; p=.965). Male mouthguard users reported similar symptom scores in the ED (diff=-0.07; 95%CI:-0.23,0.09), at week-1 (diff=-0.02; 95%CI:-0.18,0.14), week-2 (diff=-0.03; 95%CI:-0.19,0.13), and week-4 (diff=-0.13; 95%CI:-0.29,0.04) compared with males who didn't wear a mouthguard. Female mouthguard users reported minimally higher symptom scores at week-1 compared with non-mouthguard users (diff=0.29; 95%CI:0.01,0.56). Symptom scores were not significantly different for females who wore a mouthguard and those who didn't in the ED (diff=0.22; 95%CI:-0.04,0.48), at week-2 (diff=0.22; 95%CI:-0.06,0.51), or week-4 (diff=0.08; 95%CI:-0.20,0.36).

CONCLUSION

Wearing a mouthguard at time of injury is not associated with reduced acute and subacute symptoms after sport-related concussion in either males or females who were treated in the ED compared with those who did not wear a mouthguard. Athletes are still encouraged to wear a mouthguard during sports since overwhelming evidence supports their use in preventing dental injuries.

Excerpts from the documents of Mexican positions and recommendations in cardiovascular diseases and COVID-19

The recommendations in which the Mexican Society of Cardiology (SMC) in conjunction with the National Association of Cardiologists of Mexico (ANCAM) as well as different Mexican medical associations linked to cardiology are presented, after a comprehensive and consensual review and analysis of the topics related to cardiovascular diseases in the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific positions are analyzed and responsible recommendations on general measures are given to patients, with personal care, healthy eating, regular physical activity, actions in case of cardio-respiratory arrest, protection of the patient and health personnel as well as precise indications in the use of non-invasive cardiovascular imaging, prescription of medications, care in specific topics such as systemic arterial hypertension, heart failure, arrhythmias and acute coronary syndromes, in addition to emphasizing electrophysiology, interventionism, cardiac surgery and in cardiac rehabilitation. The main interest is to provide the medical community with a general orientation on what to do in daily practice and patients with cardiovascular diseases in the setting of this unprecedented epidemiological crisis of COVID-19.

Evaluation of Knowledge, Awareness, and Occurrence of Dental Injuries in Participant Children during Sports in New Delhi: A Pilot Study

Aim

To evaluate the occurrence of dental injuries in children, the level of knowledge of the participants about preventive measures, and management of dental trauma during sports, in New Delhi.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out among 450 children aged 6 to 16 years. A structured interviewer-guided questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of oral injuries sustained during sport activities, the use of mouthguard as well as the athlete’s awareness regarding use of mouthguard. The respondents consisted of 313 males (69.6%) and 137 females (30.4%) with a mean age of 12.6 years.

Results

Out of the total participants, 27 (6%) had chipping or fracture of teeth, 25 (5.6%) had soft-tissue laceration, 24 (5.4%) had avulsion of teeth, and 18 (4%) had suffered fracture of jaw/bones. Out of the total participants, 263 (58.4%) knew that it was possible to replant the teeth and 187 (41.6%) did not know that it was possible to replant the teeth. Out of the total participants, 203 (45.1%) did not know what is the best time to put the teeth back in the mouth and 247 (54.9 %) answered in affirmative with variable answer. Of the total participants, 223 (49.6%) answered that they would carry avulsed tooth in water, 94 (20.8%) wrapped in cloth, 57 (12.6%) in mouth/saliva, 9 (2%) in Hanks’ balanced salt solution (HBSS), and 67 (14.8%) answered others. Of the total participants, 321 (71.3%) were aware that mouthguards prevent injury and 129 (28.7%) did not know about mouthguards. Out of the total participants, 94 (20.9%) used mouthguards and 356 (79.1%) had never used mouthguards.

Conclusion

Level of awareness and knowledge about sports-related orofacial injury is very poor among children in New Delhi. Education on prevention of orofacial trauma should be given to the coaches and children. Wearing of mouthguards during sport activities should be compulsory during practice and competition events.

How to cite this article: Goswami M, Kumar P, Bhushan U. Evaluation of Knowledge, Awareness, and Occurrence of Dental Injuries in Participant Children during Sports in New Delhi: A Pilot Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2017;10(4):373-378.

The knowledge, attitude and practices of male sports participants to sports-related dental trauma in Khobar and Dammam, Saudi Arabia - A pilot survey

The risk of dental trauma may increase during sports participation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices of sports participants concerning sports-related dental trauma and associated emergency/preventive practices. The study included 124 male subjects over 18 years of age participating in contact and non-contact sports in three clubs in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was used to assess past experience of dental trauma related to sports in addition to the use of a mouth guard and knowledge of related emergency procedures. Outcomes were compared between individuals practicing direct and non-direct contact sports. One third of the participants had experienced dental trauma while playing sports, mostly crown fracture, mobility, and avulsion. Their knowledge of first aid and emergency procedures was inadequate. A significantly higher proportion of non-direct contact sport participants sought the help of a dentist for themselves or others (P = 0.04 and 0.003, respectively). Only 33.9% used mouth guards, with higher odds of mouth guard use associated with participating in direct contact sports and believing a tooth can be lost during sports practice (odds ratio = 5.59 and 5.37, respectively). Educational programs are needed to increase the awareness in sports participants of the risk of dental trauma during sports participation, to improve their knowledge of first aid procedures, and to increase the use of mouth guards.