Prevalence of malocclusions in the 13-20-year-old categories of football athletes

ABSTRACT

The dentist can offer athletes improvement in their physical performance through the maintenance of oral health, preventing and treating any and all changes in the stomatognathic system, such as dental malocclusions, that compromise the athletes' performance. The objective of this study is to research the presence of dental malocclusions in athletes of the category between 13 and 20 years of age, from the São Paulo Football Club. 84 athletes participated in this study, dealing with the following topics molar relation (Angle's classification); presence of overbite; underbite; overcrowding; abnormal spacing; open bite; and anterior, posterior, bilateral and unilateral crossbite; midline deviation and facial type (mesofacial, brachyfacial and dolichofacial). Only one table was made, showing percentages. In regard to Angle's molar relation, 89 percent are in Class I, 8 percent in Class II, 3 percent Class III, 9 percent of the athletes had overbite, 4 percent had underbite, 13 percent had overcrowding and 21 percent had abnormal spacing. In regard to the bite, 11 percent presented anterior open bite. In regard to crossbite, 7 percent presented unilateral crossbite on the right side and 2 percent on the left side; 5 percent presented posterior crossbite and 4 percent anterior crossbite. In regard to midline deviations, 4 percent presented deviation in the maxilla and 33 percent in the mandible. In regard to facial type 39 percent are dolichofacial, 4 percent brachyfacial and 57 percent mesofacial. Based on the results shown, proposals for the implementation of dental, phoniatric, and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) practices are already being discussed with the multidisciplinary team of the club involved.