EVALUATION OF THE ORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS OF VOLLEYBALL ATHLETES

ABSTRACT Introduction Dental care can improve athletes’ performance, promoting oral health and preventing changes that could disrupt their sports routine. Objective To evaluate the dental conditions, habits, and oral health care of volleyball athletes, and their knowledge of the importance of oral health in sports performance. Methods Sixty-four male athletes participated in the study: 40 from the basic categories (16 ± 3 years) and 24 professionals (25 ± 5 years). For the assessment of oral conditions, changes in the temporomandibular joint, history of facial and dental trauma, and the presence of malocclusions and orthodontic treatment were verified. Hygiene was measured by the visible plaque index. To determine the athletes’ oral hygiene, they were asked how many times per day they brushed their teeth, flossed their teeth, or used oral mouthwash. Finally, we evaluated the athletes’ opinions concerning the importance of oral health and sports performance. Data analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney and Fisher’s Exact tests, with a significance level of 5%. Results For most of the parameters evaluated, similar results were found between professional and baseline athletes (p> 0.05). However, for the parameters “flossing” (p = 0.0027) and “facial/dental trauma” (p = 0.0444), significant differences were observed (p <0.05) between the categories of athletes. Conclusion We conclude that professional athletes are more prone to facial/dental trauma, and that the presence of a dental surgeon to assist the team improves athletes’ overall oral health. Level of evidence II; Retrospective study.