Poor oral health including active caries in 187 UK professional male football players: clinical dental examination performed by dentists

• Published in: British journal of sports medicine Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 41 - 44
• Main Authors: Needleman, Ian, Ashley, Paul, Meehan, Lyndon, Petrie, Aviva, Weiler, Richard, McNally, Steve, Ayer, Chris, Hanna, Rob, Hunt, Ian, Kell, Steven, Ridgewell, Paul, Taylor, Russell
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group 01.01.2016; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Athletes; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental caries; Dental Caries - diagnosis; Dental Caries - epidemiology; Dental health; Dental insurance; Dental Restoration Repair - statistics & numerical data; Dentists; Diagnosis, Oral; England - epidemiology; Health behavior; Humans; Male; Oral Health - statistics & numerical data; Oral hygiene; Periodontal Diseases - diagnosis; Periodontal Diseases - epidemiology; Professional soccer; Quality of life; Self Report; Soccer - physiology; Soccer - statistics & numerical data; Studies; Tooth Erosion - diagnosis; Tooth Erosion - epidemiology; Young Adult; England; United Kingdom > UK; Dentistry; Football; Illness; Teeth
• ISSN: 0306-3674; 1473-0480
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094953

BackgroundThe few studies that have assessed oral health in professional/elite football suggest poor oral health with minimal data on impact on performance. The aim of this research was to determine oral health in a representative sample of professional footballers in the UK and investigate possible determinants of oral health and self-reported impact on well-being, training and performance.MethodsClinical oral health examination of senior squad players using standard methods and outcomes carried out at club training facilities. Questionnaire data were also collected. 8 teams were included, 5 Premier League, 2 Championship and 1 League One.Results6 dentists examined 187 players who represented >90% of each senior squad. Oral health was poor: 37% players had active dental caries, 53% dental erosion and 5% moderate-severe irreversible periodontal disease. 45% were bothered by their oral health, 20% reported an impact on their quality of life and 7% on training or performance. Despite attendance for dental check-ups, oral health deteriorated with age.ConclusionsThis is the first large, representative sample study in professional football. Oral health of professional footballers is poor, and this impacts on well-being and performance. Successful strategies to promote oral health within professional football are urgently needed, and research should investigate models based on best evidence for behaviour change and implementation science. Furthermore, this study provides strong evidence to support oral health screening within professional football.