Aspetar contributes to landmark AFC guidelines on dental health in football

Doha, Qatar: 20^th September 2026 – Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, has contributed to the development of the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) newly approved AFC Sports Dentistry Guideline for Dental Health and On-field Management of Dental Emergencies, strengthening efforts to protect the health and welfare of footballers across Asia.

Approved by the AFC Medical Committee, the guidelines provide a practical, evidence-informed framework to support oral health, prevent and manage orofacial injuries, and improve the on-field response to dental trauma in football. They are intended to serve as a reference for AFC Member Associations and healthcare professionals working with players throughout the continent.

The initiative was led by Dr. Mohammed Alsaey, Chair of the AFC Sports Dentistry Advisory Group and Director of Sports Dentistry at Aspetar. Developed in collaboration with sports dentistry specialists from across Asia.

Dato’ Dr. Gurcharan Singh, Chairperson of the AFC Medical Committee, said:

 The AFC Sports Dentistry Guidelines represent a landmark step in advancing athlete healthcare across Asian football. Developed through the expertise and dedication of the AFC Sports Dentistry Advisory Group, these guidelines provide our Member Associations with a practical framework to enhance player welfare, prevent orofacial injuries, and promote long-term oral health. We commend the team for their outstanding contribution to a project that will benefit football communities throughout Asia.

The guidelines reflect the increasing recognition that oral health is closely connected to overall athlete wellbeing. By bringing dental prevention, screening, emergency preparedness and clinical best practice into football medicine systems, the framework aims to help teams provide more consistent and timely care for players.

Dr. Mohammed Alsaey, Chair of the AFC Sports Dentistry Advisory Group and Director of Sports Dentistry at Aspetar said:

Good oral health is fundamental to athlete wellbeing, performance and long-term health. The approval of these guidelines is an important milestone for sports dentistry and Asian football. This collaborative project brought together leading experts from across the continent to establish clear, evidence-based recommendations for dental care in football. By strengthening prevention, education and clinical best practice, the guidelines will help protect players, enhance their wellbeing and raise the standard of care available to players at every level of the game.

Aspetar’s contribution reflects its longstanding commitment to advancing specialist sports medicine and translating clinical expertise into practical standards for athletes and sporting organisations. Dr. Alsaey leads Aspetar’s Sports Dentistry Department and has previously developed sports dentistry screening program and national clinical guidance on the management of orofacial injuries in professional sport in Qatar.

The new AFC guidelines represent a significant step for football medicine in Asia, placing dental health and emergency dental care more firmly within the wider approach to player safety, health and performance.

About Aspetar:

Aspetar is a world-leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Since 2007, with a world expert team, the hospital has provided top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the-art facility that sets new standards internationally.

In 2009, Aspetar was accredited as a “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence” by F-MARC. In 2013, Aspetar was adopted as a reference collaborator centre by the Gulf Countries Council (GCC) Health Ministers Council and “The IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health” in 2014.

In 2015, Aspetar has been recognised as the “IHF Reference Centre for Athlete and Referee Health”. In the same year, the hospital also achieved obtained-on December 15 the Accreditation Canada International (ACI) “Platinum Level”.

Aspetar is a member–organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar’s innovative sports and healthy lifestyle destination.