Dental health status and behaviors of young soccer players

OBJECTIVE The high performance standards required athletes can only be attained by a totally healthy individual. Poor oral health among athletes has been related to poor performance in training and games, poor social relationships and less success in future life (Kerr, 1983). The purpose of this study was to examine behaviours related with oral health as well as DMFt (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) and DMFs (Decayed, Missing, Filled Surface) index of the licensed young soccer players METHODS 208 licensed young soccer players age between 13 to 19 years old participated in this study. Athletes were examined by three expert dentists. As an indicator of oral health, DMFt and DMFs indexes were calculated. In addition, oral health questionnaire were administered to determine oral health behaviours' of the athletes. RESULTS Findings related to dental health status indicated that 85.4% of athletes have at least one decayed tooth (DMFt>1). Mean value of DMFt was 3.2 plus or minus 2.5 and mean value of number of decays on tooth surface (DMFs) was 4.12 plus or minus 3.35. 95% of athletes believed importance of regular dental care for their oral health. 21% of athletes had dentist fear and only 15.9% of them had regularly been using dental health services. DISCUSSION There is no nationwide study about oral health of athletes. It may be assumed that this study is the very first one in this field. All of the oral exams were made by three dentists and because of acceptable examination condi-tions it was assumed that the collected data were reliable. Although the importance of oral health is known by the ma-jority of athletes, this study implied that their oral health status was unsatisfactory. Only some of the participants, who reported that they have enough information about oral health, had been receiving regular oral health services.