Awareness of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Impact of Educational Intervention Among Croatian Soccer Coaches and Players

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of dental injuries in both soccer coaches and players, as well as the impact of educational intervention on coaches and the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries and mouthguard usage among soccer players. <b>M...

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Main Authors: Dina Bursać, Lovro Marinović, Marta Horvat, Kristina Goršeta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Dentistry Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/3/121
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author Dina Bursać
Lovro Marinović
Marta Horvat
Kristina Goršeta
author_facet Dina Bursać
Lovro Marinović
Marta Horvat
Kristina Goršeta
author_sort Dina Bursać
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of dental injuries in both soccer coaches and players, as well as the impact of educational intervention on coaches and the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries and mouthguard usage among soccer players. <b>Methods</b>: The study involved 94 male soccer players (median age 18, IQR: 12–19) and 39 coaches. Data were collected through questionnaires covering age, gender, years of experience, injury history, mouthguard use, and knowledge of tooth rescue kits and tooth repositioning. <b>Results</b>: Of the players, 34 (36.2%) experienced orofacial injuries during soccer, while only 7 (7.4%) used mouthguards. Reasons for not using mouthguards included discomfort (26.1%), belief they are unnecessary (26.1%), and difficulty purchasing them (8.0%). Among coaches, 24 (61.5%) reported handling dental injuries during training, including crown fractures (41.7%), tooth avulsions (33.3%), and tooth luxations (25.0%). Only four (10.3%) coaches personally used mouthguards. <b>Conclusions</b>: The study identified a significant lack of knowledge about dental injuries and limited use of mouthguards among Croatian soccer players. Coaches, while influential in athlete development, should also focus on injury prevention, including dental trauma.
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spelling doaj-art-a918fb95f05e4f789c2a4a975a495d5a2025-08-20T02:42:40ZengMDPI AGDentistry Journal2304-67672025-03-0113312110.3390/dj13030121Awareness of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Impact of Educational Intervention Among Croatian Soccer Coaches and PlayersDina Bursać0Lovro Marinović1Marta Horvat2Kristina Goršeta3University Hospital Center Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaUniversity Hospital Merkur, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaHealth Center Zagreb-West, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of dental injuries in both soccer coaches and players, as well as the impact of educational intervention on coaches and the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries and mouthguard usage among soccer players. <b>Methods</b>: The study involved 94 male soccer players (median age 18, IQR: 12–19) and 39 coaches. Data were collected through questionnaires covering age, gender, years of experience, injury history, mouthguard use, and knowledge of tooth rescue kits and tooth repositioning. <b>Results</b>: Of the players, 34 (36.2%) experienced orofacial injuries during soccer, while only 7 (7.4%) used mouthguards. Reasons for not using mouthguards included discomfort (26.1%), belief they are unnecessary (26.1%), and difficulty purchasing them (8.0%). Among coaches, 24 (61.5%) reported handling dental injuries during training, including crown fractures (41.7%), tooth avulsions (33.3%), and tooth luxations (25.0%). Only four (10.3%) coaches personally used mouthguards. <b>Conclusions</b>: The study identified a significant lack of knowledge about dental injuries and limited use of mouthguards among Croatian soccer players. Coaches, while influential in athlete development, should also focus on injury prevention, including dental trauma.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/3/121dental traumapreventionmouthguard
spellingShingle Dina Bursać
Lovro Marinović
Marta Horvat
Kristina Goršeta
Awareness of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Impact of Educational Intervention Among Croatian Soccer Coaches and Players
Dentistry Journal
dental trauma
prevention
mouthguard
title Awareness of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Impact of Educational Intervention Among Croatian Soccer Coaches and Players
title_full Awareness of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Impact of Educational Intervention Among Croatian Soccer Coaches and Players
title_fullStr Awareness of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Impact of Educational Intervention Among Croatian Soccer Coaches and Players
title_full_unstemmed Awareness of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Impact of Educational Intervention Among Croatian Soccer Coaches and Players
title_short Awareness of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Impact of Educational Intervention Among Croatian Soccer Coaches and Players
title_sort awareness of traumatic dental injuries and impact of educational intervention among croatian soccer coaches and players
topic dental trauma
prevention
mouthguard
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/3/121
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AT lovromarinovic awarenessoftraumaticdentalinjuriesandimpactofeducationalinterventionamongcroatiansoccercoachesandplayers
AT martahorvat awarenessoftraumaticdentalinjuriesandimpactofeducationalinterventionamongcroatiansoccercoachesandplayers
AT kristinagorseta awarenessoftraumaticdentalinjuriesandimpactofeducationalinterventionamongcroatiansoccercoachesandplayers