Dental health status of professional football players during the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup: a preliminary study

Oral health is increasingly recognized as an important factor influencing athletic performance and overall quality of life; however, limited data are available on elite football players in Asia. This cross-sectional clinical study evaluated the oral health status of professional players participating in the Asian Football Cup held in Qatar between January and February 2023. Three calibrated dentists conducted standardized clinical examinations on 70 randomly selected players (mean age: 26.8 years) using the DMFT, BPE, and BEWE indices to assess dental caries, periodontal health, erosive tooth wear, wisdom teeth status, trauma, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Dental caries was present in 85.7% of players (mean DED = 5.6), and 77.1% had restorations. Gingivitis affected 82.9%, while 12.9% showed signs of periodontitis. Tooth erosion was detected in 88.6%, with 10% classified as high risk. Partially erupted wisdom teeth were identified in 38.6%, pericoronitis in 7.1%, sports-related trauma in 30%, and TMJ disorders in 21.4%. These findings highlight a substantial oral disease burden and support integrating preventive dental care into routine athlete health programs.