Orofacial trauma and mouth-protector wear among high school varsity basketball players.

This investigation surveyed the prevalence and types of orofacial injuries among 1020 Florida high school basketball players during one season; it also examined the prevalence and types of mouth protectors used and their influence on sustained injuries. The results demonstrated a relatively high prevalence of players (31 percent) reporting orofacial trauma suffered during the organized playing of basketball. Most players reporting orofacial trauma indicated they received multiple injuries during the season. Only a small percentage (4.2 percent) of the basketball players surveyed reported use of mouth protectors and this use was exclusively voluntary. Those players not wearing mouth protectors reported an approximately seven-fold increase in orofacial injuries; most involved trauma to the soft tissue. Many objections were cited to the use of mouth protectors by the players, which must be overcome if compliance with future mandatory wear is recommended. Results of this survey suggest that further investigation into orofacial injuries among basketball players should be pursued.