SELF-REPORTED EXPERIENCES OF TAEKWONDO ATHLETES WITH MOUTHGUARDS

Objective: Taekwondo is a close contact sport, where the activity is intense, and mouthguards are mandatory. The aim of the study was to evaluate the experiences of the Taekwondo athletes on custommade 4.0mm-thickness mouthguards versus other types retrospectively. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 26 athletes (74.29%) with permanent dentition from the Metropolitan Municipality Taekwondo Sports School who used two different types of mouthguards for at least three-months for each: a mouthguard with a thickness of 4.0 mm and another type. Their experiences on mouthguards and dental trauma were evaluated by a questionnaire. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Appropriateness of mouthguards were evaluated from photographs. Results: The athletes were practicing taekwondo for an average of 9.5 +/- 2.47 years and were using a mouthguard for 4.6 +/- 3.12 years. Findings revealed that 80.8% of the athletes did not use mouthguard during training. 46.2% experienced an injury where 34.6% also experienced dental injuries. 61.5% of the athletes claimed that the 4 mm thick mouthguard made them feel safer (p=0.009) and 53.8% reported a beneficial effect on their performance (p=0.09). 53.8% reported preference for 4mm-thickness mouthguard (p=0.09). 4mm-thickness custom-made mouthguards were highly accepted by the taekwondo players and should be encouraged for use in both trainings and matches. Conclusions: It is vital that not only the trainers but also dentists and pediatric dentists promote the use of mouthguards for athletes and ensure that follow-ups are carried out for regular and comfortable use.