DENTAL INJURIES, TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS, AND CARIES IN WRESTLERS

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of dental injuries , temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and dental caries in a group of c hampion wrestlers. Twenty-six male wrestlers, with a mean age of 23 yr , and an age-matched control group participated in the study. A questi onnaire was used with questions on trauma, frequency of headache, inte nsity of practicing sports, use of sugar-containing ''sports drinks'', use of mouth guards, and previous TMD problems. Four bitewing radiogr aphs were taken in all subjects. In addition, three intraoral apical r adiographs of maxillary and mandibular frontal regions were taken in t he wrestlers. The number of existing teeth, dental caries, amount and type of restorations, and dental injuries were recorded. Examination o f the stomatognathic system comprised bilateral palpation of the masse ter and temporal muscles and temporomandibular joints, and evaluation of the mandibular movements. None of the subjects had drunk sports dri nks or worn mouth protectors regularly. The wrestlers had more frequen t and severe dental injuries localized to the frontal region of the ma xilla than the controls. No statistical differences were found in the prevalence of caries or TMD between the groups.