The main purpose of this study was to verify the most frequent dental alterations found in soccer players. In a survey carried out by the dentistry department of this Association, the case histories of 400 soccer players were evaluated over a period of 6 years. The players _ 353 amateurs and 47 professionals _ aged 16.5 ± 2.1 (ranging from 9 to 20) and 24.7 ± 3.6 (ranging from 21 to 34), respectively, were all male members of the team of athletes in the soccer department. The tools used during the procedures were clinical mirror and explorer no. 5 (Duflex) in a model office (MLX Plus-Funk Trademark). The occlusion radiographs were obtained with Kodak films in the X-ray equipment (Spectro 11 model-Dabi Atlante Trademark). These were the alterations and results found in the amateur soccer players: 199 cases of tartarectomy (56%), 283 of caries (71%), 61 of gingivitis (17%), 51 of endodontics (14%), 33 of abscesses (9%), 21 of fistulas (6%) and 10 of aphthae (3%). In the orthodontic cases, the following alterations were found: diastema in 12 athletes (3.5%), crowded teeth in 35 (10%), heterotopic in 36 (10.2%), and impacted in 14 (1%). Seventy-eight extractions (22%), 41 fillings (11.5%) and 72 tooth replacements (20%) were carried out, while prophylactic measures covered 148 cases (42%). The professional soccer players presented the following results: 17 cases of tartarectomy (36%), 32 of caries (68%), 14 of gingivitis (30%), 11 of endodontics (23%), 6 of pulpitis (13%), absence of abscesses, 2 of fistulas and aphthae (4%), respectively. Six cases of orthodontics were verified, subdivided into 3 crowded and heterotopic teeth (6%), respectively. There were 78 extractions (51%), 6 fillings (13%), and 23 replacements of teeth (49%). Conclusion: results verified in this investigation have shown the importance of dentistry for both preventive and/or corrective measures. It is also important to stress that an inadequate teething process may cause gastrointestinal alterations and even musculoskeletal changes, thus making it difficult for athletes to participate in training and contests.
Soccer players; Dental alterations; Prospective study; Sports medicine
