title: Dental trauma in showjumping - A trinational study between Switzerland, France and Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Showjumping is one of the sporting activities with a high injury risk. Unpredictable behaviour of the horse, considerable speed and the height of the rider in the saddle make this sport to one of the most dangerous, with the highest risk of injury and the highest mortality rate per competitor. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of dental trauma, the wearing of protective gear such as helmet, back protector and mouthguard as well as the knowledge of primary care after dental trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within the framework of this study, 608 female and male showjumpers from Switzerland, France and Germany were questioned in a personal interview consisting of 14 questions about general injuries, dental injuries and the usage of protective gear. The competitors were subdivided into different categories according to amateur or professional level, gender and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 608 competitors, 189 (31.1%) had witnessed an accident involving tooth injury and 91 (15.0%) had suffered one themselves. The prevalence of dental trauma rose with increasing age and more riding experience. A total of 436 (71.1%) of the competitors were familiar with mouthguards, of which only three owned one. The main reasons for not wearing a mouthguard were both doubtful necessity (22.5%) and a generally low acceptance among the riders (26.3%). Less than half of the competitors (44.4%) knew that an avulsed tooth can be replanted and only 4.1% had knowledge about the existence of a tooth rescue box.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that in equestrian sports still little is known about dental trauma and protective measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Oral Radiology and Oral Medicine, Center of Dental Traumatology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gass
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Oral Radiology and Oral Medicine, Center of Dental Traumatology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kühl
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Endodontology and Cariology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Connert
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Oral Radiology and Oral Medicine, Center of Dental Traumatology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filippi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001265:Athletic Injuries; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D005858:Germany; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009064:Mouth Protectors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D018677:Tooth Injuries
keywords: dental trauma; equestrianism; mouthguard; prevention