title: Dental trauma on ski slopes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Skiing and snow-boarding are winter sports with risk of dental trauma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the use of protective gear and the occurrence of dental trauma in amateur winter sports on ski slopes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 500 skiers and snowboarders (345 skiers, 110 snow-boarders, and 45 who rode both) were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire during one winter season (from January to April 2008). Sustained injuries and use of protective gear (including mouthguards) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 500 interviewed, eleven (9 m, 2 f; 2.2%) had sustained dental trauma while skiing or snowboarding. Frequent riders were most susceptible to dental trauma (p < 0.001). 165 (33%) have sustained a skiing or snow- boarding accident at least once, males more often than females (p = 0.031). Protective gear was used by 337 (67.4%), helmet, back and wrist protectors being worn most often. Snow-boarders were generally protected best (p < 0.001). All riders who had sustained an accident (n = 124; 75.1%) wore protective gear at the time of the interview (p = 0.009). Only two of eleven who had sustained dental trauma wear a mouthguard now for winter sports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that skiing and snowboarding pose only a small risk for dental trauma.
authors: Department of Oral Surgery, Oral Radiology and Oral Medicine and Centre of Dental Traumatology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Innerhofer
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Krastl
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Kühl
authors: Elisabeth N
authors: EN
authors: Baumgartner
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Filippi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009064:Mouth Protectors; D012865:Skiing / Q000293:injuries*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult