Skip to main content
British Journal of Sports Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Sports Medicine
. 1987 Jun;21(2):5–7. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.21.2.5

Injuries sustained in rugby by wearers and non-wearers of mouthguards.

J B Blignaut, I L Carstens, C J Lombard
PMCID: PMC1478425  PMID: 3620805

Abstract

Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of head and neck injuries in non-wearers when compared with wearers of mouthguards. The purpose of the present study was to compare the pattern of injuries to those of past studies and also to investigate whether the injuries sustained differed significantly between wearers and non-wearers. A sample of 321 university students participating on 555 player occasions was studied in a cross-sectional survey. No statistically significant differences (p greater than 0.05) were found between wearers and non-wearers of mouthguards with respect to head and neck injuries in general and to oral injuries in particular. We conclude that injuries sustained at rugby in this study were not associated with the use or non-use of mouthguards.

Full text

PDF
5

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Blum J., Kranz S. Operation mouthguard: a model program designed to prevent dental trauma. ASDC J Dent Child. 1982 Jan-Feb;49(1):22–24. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brebner R. T., Marshall D. W. Mouthguards: a community project in Hawke's Bay. N Z Dent J. 1977 Apr;73(332):61–63. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. CATHCART J. F. Mouth protectors for contact sports. Dent Dig. 1951 Aug;57(8):346–348. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Chapman P. J. Orofacial injuries and mouthguards: a study of the 1984 Wallabies. Br J Sports Med. 1985 Jun;19(2):93–95. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.19.2.93. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Chapman P. J. Orofacial injuries and the use of mouthguards by the 1984 Great Britain Rugby League touring team. Br J Sports Med. 1985 Mar;19(1):34–36. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.19.1.34. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Clegg J. H. Mouth protection for the rugby football player. Br Dent J. 1969 Oct 7;127(7):341–343. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Davies R. M., Bradley D., Hale R. W., Laird W. R., Thomas P. D. The prevalence of dental injuries in rugby players and their attitude to mouthguards. Br J Sports Med. 1977 Jun;11(2):72–74. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.11.2.72. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Dennis C. G., Parker D. A. Mouthguards in Australian sport. Aust Dent J. 1972 Jun;17(3):228–235. doi: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.1972.tb02335.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gelbier S. The use and construction of mouth and tooth protectors for contact sports. Br Dent J. 1966 Jun 7;120(11):533–537. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Heintz W. D. Mouth protectors: a progress report. Bureau of Dental Health Education. J Am Dent Assoc. 1968 Sep;77(3):632–636. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.1968.0267. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Josell S. D., Abrams R. G. Traumatic injuries to the dentition and its supporting structures. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1982 Jun;29(3):717–741. doi: 10.1016/s0031-3955(16)34188-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. MOON D. G., MITCHELL D. F. An evaluation of a commercial protective mouthpiece for football players. J Am Dent Assoc. 1961 May;62:568–572. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.1961.0104. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Morton J. G., Burton J. F. An evaluation of the effectiveness of mouthguards in high-school rugby players. N Z Dent J. 1979 Jul;75(341):151–153. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Myers P. T. Injuries presenting from rugby union football. Med J Aust. 1980 Jul 12;2(1):17–20. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1980.tb131804.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Nicholas N. K. Dental injuries in primary and intermediate school children. N Z Dent J. 1980 Jan;76(343):8–11. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Nicholas N. K. Mouth protection for children. N Z Dent J. 1982 Apr;78(352):62–64. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. STENGER J. M., LAWSON E. A., WRIGHT J. M., RICKETTS J. MOUTHGUARDS: PROTECTION AGAINST SHOCK TO HEAD, NECK AND TEETH. J Am Dent Assoc. 1964 Sep;69:273–281. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.1964.0290. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Upson N. Dental injuries and the attitudes of rugby players to mouthguards. Br J Sports Med. 1982 Dec;16(4):241–244. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.16.4.241. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Walkden L. The medical hazards of rugby football. Practitioner. 1975 Aug;215(1286):201–207. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. de Wet F. A., Badenhorst M., Rossouw L. M. Mouthguards for rugby players at primary school level. J Dent Assoc S Afr. 1981 Apr;36(4):249–253. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Sports Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES