• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.534-545
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• 2007

Statement of problem: In spite of increasing sports injury, there was no collected data on the rate and type of dental injuries for athletes in Korea. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of maxillofacial injuries and attitude of college sports player in Korea towards mouthguard. Material and methods: Total 617 athletes answered a series of questionnaire concerning their sports injury and using mouthguard. Results: 1. 81%(502) of athletes had, playing or training a sports, suffered an injury. Female athletes suffered an injury more than male athletes(p<0.05). Contact sports athletes were injured more than non contact sports athletes(p<0.05). 2. 335 athletes(54.8%) had suffered maxillofacial injuries while playing or training. 81.8% of athletes suffered an maxillofacial injury in contact sports(p<0.05). 3. Laceration of oral area, wrick in neck, fracture or avulsion on upper incisors, concussion, TMJ injury, fracture or avulsion on lower incisors, fracture or avulsion on lower molars were frequently injured area. 4. 67.2% of athletes answered that mouthguard could prevent sports injury especially high in contact sports(p<0.05). But only 39.1% of athletes required mouthguard while playing. 44.6% of athletes showed their intention of using mouthguard. Conclusion: This study shows that the incidence of maxillofacial injuries is very high while the actual use of mouthguard is very low. To prevent sports injury, a dentist must inform sports players and coaches of accurate information about mouthguard so that they can use it well. A dentist also has to provide them with better mouthguard on the basis of user's complaint.