000153589 001__ 153589 000153589 005__ 20250430095836.0 000153589 0247_ $$2doi$$a10.3390/sports13050133 000153589 0248_ $$2sideral$$a143726 000153589 037__ $$aART-2025-143726 000153589 041__ $$aeng 000153589 100__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-4040-7732$$aParte Serna, Alejandro Carlos de la$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza 000153589 245__ $$aGender-based analysis of oral health outcomes among elite athletes 000153589 260__ $$c2025 000153589 5060_ $$aAccess copy available to the general public$$fUnrestricted 000153589 5203_ $$aBackground: Research in dental science reveals a need for enhanced oral healthcare among elite athletes due to the stress generated by excessive exercise. Consideration of the inherent biological distinctions between men and women is crucial in sports dentistry. Objectives: Thus, this study aims to analyse the differences in oral health status among elite athletes based on gender. A total of 186 elite athletes (150 men and 36 women) recognised in the region of Aragon (Spain) participated in this study (mean age 24.99 ± 9.34), all of whom practise individual sports. Methods: Oral health status analysis included: periodontal, malocclusion and tooth status measured using the restoration index (RI) and the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Results: Women had fewer teeth, a lower restoration index (p < 0.05) and lower DMFT index values (p < 0.001); furthermore, this group showed a greater number of missing teeth (p < 0.001) and decayed teeth (p < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in malocclusion, plaque, gingival bleeding, dental erosion or bruxism values between the genders. Mouthguard usage was low (men = 9.4% vs. women = 14.3%; p = 0.57). Conclusions: This study highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach to address the high prevalence of oral health issues among elite athletes, despite the differences in health status between men and women. 000153589 540__ $$9info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess$$aby$$uhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/ 000153589 655_4 $$ainfo:eu-repo/semantics/article$$vinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 000153589 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-2802-2880$$aMonticelli, Francesca$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza 000153589 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-6829-0775$$aPradas, Francisco$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza 000153589 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0003-0454-6302$$aLecina, Miguel$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza 000153589 700__ $$0(orcid)0009-0002-1869-6854$$aGarcía-Giménez, Alejandro$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza 000153589 7102_ $$11013$$2275$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Cirugía$$cÁrea Estomatología 000153589 7102_ $$13001$$2187$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Expres.Music.Plást.Corp.$$cÁrea Didáctica Expres.Corporal 000153589 7102_ $$11006$$2245$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería$$cÁrea Educación Física y Depor. 000153589 773__ $$g13, 5 (2025), 133 [10 pp.]$$tSports$$x2075-4663 000153589 8564_ $$s242148$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/153589/files/texto_completo.pdf$$yVersión publicada 000153589 8564_ $$s2532944$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/153589/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon$$xicon$$yVersión publicada 000153589 909CO $$ooai:zaguan.unizar.es:153589$$particulos$$pdriver 000153589 951__ $$a2025-04-30-08:29:58 000153589 980__ $$aARTICLE