摘要：Orofacial injuries are common in sporting activities, depending on type of sport and many other circumstances. Orofacial injuries and dysfunctions are result of macrotraumas (acute and strong hits) and microtraumas (repetitive injuring) resulting in various symptomatology, with temporary or permanent cessation of sport activity. In sporting activities it is very important to limit or completely avoid injury risk. Most injuries in sports are predictable and therefore preventable. Measures for preventing orofacial injuries and dysfunctions in sporting activities include various types of protection appliances: extraoral, intra-oral and combined mouth and teeth protectors. Intraoral (interdental) sports guards (mouthguards) can be stock or ready-made, mouth-formed (self-adapted) or custom-made mouthguards. These mouthguards, mutually different in quality, play a very important role in prevention of orofacial tissue injuries: protect teeth and soft tissues against injuries, upper and lower jaw fractures, prevent dislocation of temporomandibular joint, and also reduce frequency and severity of head and neck injuries. Use of mouthguards significantly reduces the number of orofacial tissue injuries, i.e. for about 10 to 60 times, and also reduces the severity of sustained injuries. Sports injuries, as well as those to orofacial and temporomandibular area, regardless of whether they are incurred in recreational or competitive sport, require multidisciplinary approach, both in diagnostics and treatment and in implementation of prevention measures. Sports doctors, coaches, sports officials, parents and athletes themselves should also be permanently educated on the exceptional importance of prevention measures, thus making the role of sports dentist unavoidable.
