A prevalence study of traumatic dental injuries in male athletes in martial sports in Mashhad in 2001.

traumatic dental injuries have a relatively high-prevalence particularly in athletics. The goal of this study is to determine the prevalence of traumatized dental injuries in male martial athletes in Mashhad. In this cross-sectional study, 338 male athletes from twelve sports clubs (karate,Boxing,Tac kwon do, Kungfu) of Mashhad in 2001 were examined. Each athlete was asked to fill in a questionnaire. The Craig- Hargreev's classification system was used for recording the type of dental fractures. The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in the studied society was 22.8%. The highest rate of dental injuries was related to boxing (34.7%) and karate (22%). Dental injuries were more common in athletes at the age of 16-20 years old (42.8%). The traumatized injuries to teeth were more prevalent in the maxilla and especially central incisors (61.2%). Enamel was injured more than the other parts of the teeth. The use of mouth guard was 15.4%prevalent, which was the most in boxing (34%).Of course the use was irregular. There was a significant difference between the use of mouth guard and prevention of dental injuries (p<0.0001). The most common cause of dental injuries in martial athletes was lack of the use of mouth guard. Teaching the correct use of mouth guard, and wide distribution of type II mouth guard amongst the athletes, is recommended.