Uso de protetores bucais na prevenção de traumatismos dentários durante práticas esportivas em crianças: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Introduction: Specialized trauma is defined as injury to the dental organ, supporting structures and adjacent soft tissues. Children who undergo Traumatic Dental Surgery (TLD) can suffer physical, psychological and financial impacts. In this context, mouthguards help to prevent dental and mandibular repairs. Objective: To evaluate the impact of the use of mouthguards in the prevention of childhood trauma, during sports, in children. Material and methods: This is an integrative literature review that sought to answer the guiding question: What is the impact of the use of mouthguards in children during sports activities? A search was carried out in the following databases: LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar for articles published 10 years ago with the following descriptors: "mouthguards", "last described injuries" and "described sports", as well as their respective terms in the English language. Results: 177 articles were retrieved, but only 9 responded effectively about the impact of the use of mouthguards in children during sports activities, and were therefore included. Trauma prevention has become fundamental not only because of its expressive prevalence, but also because of the high impact on quality of life in terms of physical and psychological discomfort from sequelae, negatively interfering in an individual's social relationships. Some authors have evidenced the low frequency of use of the device by children in sports activities and, regarding the barriers to use, the cost, low awareness, lack of adaptation and interference in speech and breathing stand out. Conclusion: Scientific articles reiterated the predominant positive impact of the use of mouthguards in sports, despite the limitation regarding the popularity and diffusion of use in sportsmen, especially young people. The potential benefit and preventive protective effect of these devices, especially the “custom” type, outweigh any potential harm, as well as evealing that the benefits outweigh the barriers to their use. Thus, the need for greater dissemination and engagement on this topic becomes clear, aiming at both the promotion and prevention of the health of the population, especially children.