Study of hockey and orodental trauma The role of mouthguards

This thesis investigates the prevention and management of orodental injuries in field hockey, with a particular focus on mouthguard use, effectiveness and hygiene.
Despite high rates of mouthguard usage among players, the prevalence of dental injuries remains substantial, suggesting that current designs may not provide sufficient protection against the forces encountered in field hockey. Custom-made mouthguards were reported as more comfortable and better tolerated than stock or boil-and-bite types, although many players still felt that further improvements in both comfort and protective performance were needed.
Field hockey coaches demonstrated limited knowledge of emergency dental trauma management, indicating the need for targeted educational programs, particularly for less experienced coaches.
Experimental analyses of different mouthguards showed significant variations in protective capacity, with thicker designs providing superior impact absorption but reduced comfort. Notably, most mouthguards were effective only against low-speed impacts, but below speeds that are commonly observed in elite-level hockey tournaments.
Hygiene studies showed that salivary proteins adhere to mouthguards, however cleaning, especially with effervescent tablets and to a lesser extent with cold water, effectively removes almost all protein depositions, thereby supporting oral health and potentially extending device longevity.
Overall, orodental injury remains a significant challenge in field hockey. Improved mouthguard design, sport-specific regulations, and enhanced education for coaches and players are crucial to improve both protection and management of dental trauma.