Use of mouthguards in Latin American field hockey athletes during the ODESUR 2022 Games

Background/Aims Athletes are susceptible to oral injuries. To reduce the incidence and severity of oral trauma, a custom‐made mouthguard, a device positioned in the mouth to prevent damage to teeth and surrounding structures, is recommended. In field hockey, according to the international rules of this sport, using mouthguards is not mandatory, but it is recommended to wear them at all times while practicing this discipline. We aimed to determine characteristics and differences regarding mouthguard usage among field hockey players from different countries participating in the XII ODESUR Games. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional study that included 78 voluntary hockey athletes that met the inclusion criteria. The questionnaire used was validated by Panam Sports, collecting information on the type of mouthguard (custom‐made or prefabricated), and the time of use of the mouthguard (range of 5 years). Results Of the total number of athletes, 96% used mouthguards, of which 64% were custom‐made type, and 32% were prefabricated (p