Oral Health Status and Impact on Performance of Professional Soccer Players

Objectives: To evaluate oral health, the determinants of oral health and the effect of oral health on well-being, training and performance of professional soccer players in Thailand. Methods: Twenty-nine professional soccer players in Phitsanulok FC, Thailand. Oral examination about 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. Impact of oral health on athletic performance and training was assessed using OIDP Results: The results demonstrated high levels of poor oral health including dental caries (84%), mean DMFT= 10.08 (D=8.0, M=0.84 and F=1.24), dental attrition (60%) and periodontal pocket (36%). Thirty percent of all players presented bruxism and 10 % with severe malocclusion. 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 professional soccer players Thai was poor with a resulting substantial negative impact on well-being, training and performance. As oral health is an important element of overall health and well-being, health promotion and disease prevention interventions are urgently required to optimise soccer player performance.DOI: 10.14693/jdi.v23i1.63

Comparison of Tongue Characteristics Classified According to Ultrasonographic Features Using a K-Means Clustering Algorithm

The precise correlations among tongue function and characteristics remain unknown, and no previous studies have attempted machine learning-based classification of tongue ultrasonography findings. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to investigate relationships among tongue characteristics and function by classifying ultrasound images of the tongue using a K-means clustering algorithm. During 2017–2018, 236 healthy older participants (mean age 70.8 ± 5.4 years) were enrolled. The optimal number of clusters determined by the elbow method was 3. After analysis of tongue thickness and echo intensity plots, tongues were classified into three groups. One-way ANOVA was used to compare tongue function, tongue pressure, and oral diadochokinesis for /ta/ and /ka/ in each group. There were significant differences in all tongue functions among the three groups. The worst function was observed in patients with the lowest values for tongue thickness and echo intensity (tongue pressure [P = 0.023], /ta/ [P = 0.007], and /ka/ [P = 0.038]). Our results indicate that ultrasonographic classification of tongue characteristics using K-means clustering may aid clinicians in selecting the appropriate treatment strategy. Indeed, ultrasonography is advantageous in that it provides real-time imaging that is non-invasive, which can improve patient follow-up both in the clinic and at home