Clinical findings and self-reported oral health status of biathletes and cross-country skiers in the preseason – a cohort study with a control group

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study aimed to compare clinical oral conditions as well as the self-reported oral health status of biathletes and cross-country skiers (A) to age- and gender-matched non-athletic controls (C). Thirty-one A and 68 C were examined in 2020 regarding caries experience (DMF-T), partially erupted wisdom teeth, non-carious tooth wear (erosion), dental plaque biofilm, gingival inflammation, periodontal screening (PSI), salivary active matrix-metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) test and screening for temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Questionnaires recorded periodontal symptoms, TMD symptoms and oral health behaviour. Group A had a lower prevalence of carious teeth and positive aMMP-8 tests, but more of them had severe gingivitis and signs of periodontitis. Both groups reported similar oral health behaviour. Only in group C, associations between aMMP-8 and periodontal findings as well as clinical findings and self-reported symptoms of TMD were identified. Group A showed a high prevalence of oral inflammation and seemed to be less aware of oral symptoms. Clinical examination seems to be necessary for periodontal/TMD screening of athletes.

KEYWORDS:

• athletes
• sports dentistry
• oral health
• oral hygiene
• oral health-related quality of life
• aMMP-8
• prevention

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Colin Molloy (Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA) and Felicitas Leese for critical revision of the English language.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2022.2090251

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of this article.