Dental Trauma among Female and Male High Risk Population

Objectives: The aim of this study is to report the incidence and etiology of oral and dental trauma among female and male fighters in Israel Defense Forces (IDF) infantry troops. Methods: Infantry troops (N=555) from four brigades in the IDF were interviewed using a structured questionnaire regarding oro-dental injuries that occurred during their active service years. Results: Of the participants 378 were males and 177 females, with mean age of 20.8±2.2 and 20.0±0.8 years, and mean service duration of 25.5±11.8 and 15.7±7.7 months, respectively. Injuries in the oral and peri-oral region during military service were reported by 128 (23.1%); 97 of the males (25.7%) and 31 of the females (17.5%). Incidence was 120.8 cases/1000-fighter-years among males and 143.0 cases/1000-fighter-years in females. Teeth were involved in 63.9% and 61.3% of male's and female's injuries, respectively. Most injuries occurred in an isolated training or operational field. Sixty (15.9%) males and one (0.6%) female reported of regular use of mouthguard during activity (p<0.001). Conclusions: The high incidence of dental trauma warrants preventive interventions including the use of protective devices (e.g. mouthguards) during training and sport activities, especially among female-fighters.