Evaluation of Dental Injuries in Iranian Athletes: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Dental injury is an important public health problem that occurs in athletics. This study aimed to determine dental injuries in Iranian athletes. Methods: By searching related keywords in the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and EMBASE databases, as well as the reference list of the eligible articles, and related published studies in English and Persian by the end of 2020 were included in the study, and the required data were extracted from them. Results: Out of 475 papers initially identified, 10 satisfied the inclusion criteria and were fully evaluated accordingly. Most dental injuries belonged to combat disciplines, and the most common types of injuries were fractures and mobility in the maxillary incisors. Based on these studies, it was found that most reported injuries occurred in men during exercise. Studies have also shown that the lack of using dental protectors is one of the most important causes of injury, and the use of protectors is crucial in preventing dental injuries. Conclusions: It seems that the emphasis on the preventive role of the use of dental protectors in controlling and preventing the occurrence of dental injuries can be decisive in this regard.