Oral Health Status of the Professional Soccer Players in Thailand

Objectives: to evaluate the oral health status of the professional soccer players in thailand. methods: twenty-five thailand professional soccer players’ oral conditions were examined and included in this study. dmft, quigley & hein plaque index (pi), löe & silness gingival index, world health organization malocclusion index, pocket depth, tmj examination and history of dental trauma were recorded. results: the results demonstrated poor oral health level including dental caries (84%), dmft score mean was 10.08, dental attrition (60%) and periodontal pocket (36%). thirty percent of all players presented bruxism. more than 40% of athletes were bothered by their oral health with 28% reporting an impact on quality of life and 18% on training and performance. conclusion: the oral health of thai professional soccer players was poor that may result in negative impact on well-being, training and performance. as oral health is an important element of overall health and well-being, health promotion is required to optimize soccer player performance.