Abstract

Sport-derived traumas of the oro-maxillo-facial region are occurring with increasing frequency and in some countries their incidence is actually as high as 30%, with a prevalence of males over females. This trend is a result of the growing interest and increased number of participants in certain sporting disciplines that present a potentially high risk of injuries to the teeth and to the splanchnocranium as a whole such as: underwater swimming, mountain bike races, Alpine skiing and water sports, which can be added to better known sports likely to produce injuries such as boxing and cycle racing on the road. Apart from dental traumas, sport traumatology of the oro-maxillo-facial region also includes lesions to the periodontal tissue, lesions of the gums or oral mucosa and lesions to the support bone. Sport traumas may involve long and costly treatment and noteworthy invalidity of victims both socially and from the work point of view. In view of all these considerations, for the purpose of protecting athletes from injuries to the oro-maxillo-facial region, protective equipment such as helmets, face masks, gum shields and mouth guards have been invented. Some of these protection devices have been made obligatory by regulations. These include the use of helmets for skiers, cyclists and mountain bike riders. The most useful and effective prevention instrument is the mouth guard, use of which has proved useful not only for the protection of teeth, but also for protection of the soft tissues, the mandibular condyle and the skull. Verf.-Referat