Doha, Qatar (March 19, 2014) – Aspetar hosted a comprehensive two-day workshop to mark the upcoming World Oral Health Day. The workshop, which focused on injury prevention methods, was entitled ‘The Prevention of Oral Injuries in Sports’ and was led by Aspetar Director of Sports Dentistry Dr Mohammed Alsaey and visiting surgeon Dr Peter Fine. Organised by the Sports Dentistry Department, the workshop featured a series of interactive discussions, seminars, case studies and was held at Aspetar last week. Dr Fine said:

“I think this is a very relevant workshop as there is very little known about tooth trauma and tooth injuries, and how they can be prevented”.

A range of topics were discussed across the two days, including the direct correlation between oral health and the overall performance of an elite athlete. Dr Peter Fine, the Director of Sports Dentistry at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute in London, said:

“Evidence from a number of studies published recently, shows that the overall health of our elite athletes can be affected by their dental health”.

Dr Mohamed Alsaey, Director of Sports Dentistry at Aspetar, further explained,

“The latest studies show that there is a direct correlation between periodontal disease and cardiac problems. In the US, more than 14% of cardiac problems can be attributed to periodontal disease. The reason for this is the movement of bacteria through the blood vessels in the heart”.

Another key topic of discussion was that of the jaw fractures, which is one of the most dangerous injuries in contact sports this may result in Acute Airway Obstruction or even death. Custom made Mouth guard is used to prevent oral injuries to the teeth, lips, cheeks, tongue and jaw such as:-Tongue swallowing, Broken teeth; Excessive bleeding. “We need to raise awareness of the importance of mouth guards in contact sports. It can protect the athlete from a number of serious oral injuries, including teeth factures, jaw factures, and lip injuries”. Dr. Alsaey ‘Another topic discussed during the workshop included the effect of Sport drinks to Oral health. These kinds of drinks are often very acidic and may lead to sensitivity and tooth decay. A number of other activities are set to take place leading up to World Oral Health Day on March 20, which is designed to promote worldwide awareness of the importance of oral health. In order to successfully communicate this message to athletes in Qatar, the Sports Dentistry Department is hosting a range of informative presentations and lectures for Aspetar nurses, club physiotherapists, and Aspire Academy staff members. Dr Alsaey summarized the workshop, explaining that, as the inaugural event, this year was just the first step. “Next year, we hope host an even bigger event and invite international delegates to participate,” he said. Aspetar is a world leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, and the first of this kind in the Middle East. Since 2007, the hospital has provided top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the-art facility that sets new standards internationally.