Main description:

This book aims to explore the intricate interrelationship between oral health and sport, with the focus on highly popular team games, endurance sports, and explosive events. In order to understand the vulnerability of athletes of all levels of ability to oral health problems, relevant aspects of sports physiology and training are outlined, as are the predisposing behavioral, psychological, and physiological elements. Specific sports-related oral risk factors are identified and detailed, and the dental conditions frequently observed in athletes are explained. The dental clinical reality of athletes reveals a wide spectrum of oral consequences, affecting both soft and hard tissues, that can adversely impact on training and competitiveness. Principles of dental management are highlighted, and therapeutic solutions provided for the most common dental lesions. Emphasis is placed on preventative measures and solutions adapted to the athlete's individual needs, as well as the importance of effective collaboration with a diverse team of professionals. The book will be of interest to dentists, health professionals, sports coaches, athletes, and teachers and students of dentistry and medical disciplines.

Contents:

Setting the Scene: Endurance Sport, Athletes & Training: A Brief History of Sport.- The Current Popularity of Endurance Sports: Why?.- A Definition of Sport.- Physiological Basics of Endurance Sports.- Regulatory Medical Surveillance of Sport. Oral Health: Sports-Related Risk Factors: The Importance of Oral Health and Athletes.- A Summary of The Risk Factors Affecting Oral Health.- Nutrition of Endurance Athletes: Risk Factor.- Too Much of a Good Thing? The Time Factor Risk.- Exercise Induced Immune Suppression: Risk Factor.- Salivary Alterations: Risk Factor.- Psychology of The Endurance Athlete: Risk Factor.- Medication And The Endurance Athlete: Risk Factor.- Dental Traumatology and the Endurance Athlete: Risk Factor.- Education, Knowledge and Motivation: Risk Factor.- Access to Dental Treatment: Risk Factor. Clinical Reality: Physiological Processes & Oral Health: Periodontal Consequences.- Dental Consequences.- The Dry Mouth Syndrome of Athletes.- Clinical Reality: Dental Occlusion And Performance.- One Step Further: The Influence of Physical Effort on the Manducator System.- The Spread of Oral Infections and Performance.- Dental Pain and Performance.- Notion of Life Quality. Dental Management and Care of Athletes: General Principles.- Specific Principles: Dental Practice.- Therapeutic Solutions for the Most Common Dental Lesions in Endurance Athletes.- The Treatment of Dental Trauma.- Doping, Prescription and Dentistry.- Conclusion (and Final Remarks). Appendix.