Vaterpolo je iznimno naporan i zahtjevan šport, a u Hrvatskoj uživa veliku popularnost. Koristeći metodu upitnika provedeno je istraživanje broja, vrste i težine ozljeda kod 121 igrača 1. Hrvatske vaterpolske lige. Prosječno vrijeme treniranja vaterpola bilo je 11,77, a nastupanja u 1. vaterpolskoj ligi 5,55 godina. Igrači su prijavili 1034 ozljede tijekom karijere, prosječno 1,54 ozljede po igraču godišnje. Orofacijalne ozljede čine 74,02% ozljeda, a od toga 39,45% čine ozljede usana. Najviše orofacijalnih ozljeda zadobivaju centri, zatim bekovi, pa napadači a najmanje vratari. Prevalencija ozljeda je visoka, ali uglavnom nisu ozbiljnije prirode. Ozljede koje su razmjerno lagane i ne zahtijevaju, osim iznimno, veće liječničke intervencije, djeluju destimulativno na korištenje zaštitnih sredstava – interedentalnih štitnika. Većina ozljeda mogla se spriječiti, ili barem ublažiti, korištenjem štitnika. Korištenje štitnika je preporučljivo, kao i osiguranje opreme za pružanje pomoći na samom bazenu, naravno, uz nazočnost stomatologa tijekom vaterpolskih utakmica.Water-polo is a very difficult and demanding sport, and very popular in Croatia. Investigation on number, type and severity of injuries during water-polo was conducted on 121 Croatian 1st Division water-polo players using questionnaires. Average years of training were 11,77, and average time playing in 1st division 5,55 years. Total amount of injuries was 1034 during career, and mean number of injuries was 1,54 per player annually. Orofacial injuries comprise 74,02% of all injuries. Among them 39,45% were bruises and cuts of lips. Most orofacial injuries are experienced by pivots, than guards, followed by forwards and least by goalkeepers. The prevalence of injuries is high, but mostly injuries are not severe. Light injuries, healed without therapy or only exceptionally cured after minor medical treatment is not stimulating for mouthguard use. Most of injuries were preventable or can be diminished with use of mouthguards. The use of mouthguards is recommended but not mandatory, as well as the maintenance of equipment and dentist well educated in treatment of orofacial injuries during water polo matches
