Dental Trauma in Rugby Union players: Prevalence and Firstaid Knowledge

Background: Mouthguards prevent and reduce the severity of dental injuries. Accurate and immediate first aid management can prevent complications and improve the prognosis of traumatic dental injuries. It is important that players and support staff understand how oro-facial trauma can be prevented and the most appropriate first aid management for oral and dental injuries. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of oral trauma, the understanding of injury prevention, first aid management of dental injuries and the use of mouthguards in adult, amateur rugby union players in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to players in NSW rugby union clubs. The questionnaire asked players about their oro-facial trauma experience, first aid training, and mouthguard use. Players were given dental trauma scenarios and were asked what first aid management would be most appropriate for each scenario. Results: The risk of oro-facial trauma as perceived by the players was 6.7 (± 2.3) out of 10, with 10 representing the highest risk of injury. Results showed a high prevalence of oro-facial trauma in rugby union players at 64.9%. The most common injury reported was laceration to the intraoral and extraoral soft tissues at 44.6% of all oro-facial injuries. Participant knowledge of appropriate first aid for dental injuries was poor, with only 24.4% recommending replantation of an avulsed tooth. Despite 97.3% of respondents knowing mouthguards prevent dental injury, only 76.89% wore mouthguards regularly. Conclusion: This study highlighted a high prevalence of oro-facial injuries in players and the need for education about the prevention and first aid management of oro-facial injuries amongst players of contact sports. Acknowledgements: The researchers would like to acknowledge the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch), The Foundation of Pierre Fauchard Academy (Australasian sector) and the Australian Dental Research Foundation for their support.