Evaluation of Knowledge, Awareness, and Occurrence of Dental Injuries in Participant Children during Sports in New Delhi: A Pilot Study

AIM: To evaluate the occurrence of dental injuries in children, the level of knowledge of the participants about preventive measures, and management of dental trauma during sports, in New Delhi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 450 children aged 6 to 16 years. A structured interviewer-guided questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of oral injuries sustained during sport activities, the use of mouthguard as well as the athlete’s awareness regarding use of mouthguard. The respondents consisted of 313 males (69.6%) and 137 females (30.4%) with a mean age of 12.6 years. RESULTS: Out of the total participants, 27 (6%) had chipping or fracture of teeth, 25 (5.6%) had soft-tissue laceration, 24 (5.4%) had avulsion of teeth, and 18 (4%) had suffered fracture of jaw/bones. Out of the total participants, 263 (58.4%) knew that it was possible to replant the teeth and 187 (41.6%) did not know that it was possible to replant the teeth. Out of the total participants, 203 (45.1%) did not know what is the best time to put the teeth back in the mouth and 247 (54.9 %) answered in affirmative with variable answer. Of the total participants, 223 (49.6%) answered that they would carry avulsed tooth in water, 94 (20.8%) wrapped in cloth, 57 (12.6%) in mouth/saliva, 9 (2%) in Hanks’ balanced salt solution (HBSS), and 67 (14.8%) answered others. Of the total participants, 321 (71.3%) were aware that mouthguards prevent injury and 129 (28.7%) did not know about mouthguards. Out of the total participants, 94 (20.9%) used mouthguards and 356 (79.1%) had never used mouthguards. CONCLUSION: Level of awareness and knowledge about sports-related orofacial injury is very poor among children in New Delhi. Education on prevention of orofacial trauma should be given to the coaches and children. Wearing of mouthguards during sport activities should be compulsory during practice and competition events. How to cite this article: Goswami M, Kumar P, Bhushan U. Evaluation of Knowledge, Awareness, and Occurrence of Dental Injuries in Participant Children during Sports in New Delhi: A Pilot Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2017;10(4):373-378.