# Training sports dentists: a role in elite sport and society

## TL;DR

The paper discusses the unique role of sports dentists in elite sports and the importance of specialized training to support athletes and medical teams effectively.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the need for modular degree-based training to develop leadership and research skills specific to sports dentistry.

## Key findings

- Sports dentists require specialized training beyond general dental practice to handle sports-related dental trauma and prevention.
- Modular degree-based training enhances leadership and research capabilities for sports dentists.
- Sports dentists contribute to medical teams by planning manpower and conducting essential research.

## Abstract

Within the specialised world of elite sports, it is important that specifically well-trained ‘sports dentists' are available to support elite athletes. Their role may be very different to that of the general dental practitioner, as the sports dentist needs to have a clear understanding of sporting dental trauma, prevention of tooth tissue loss, screening of athletes during preparation for major sporting events, and be adaptable to the field-of-play role during sporting events. In addition, they need to fulfil the role of a general dental practitioner as well. The training of these individuals is critical to establish a good rapport with the athlete and their supporting medical team. The sports dentist needs to be adaptable as a teacher to other medical specialists, who may not know or have as much experience of what a sports dentist can do. In addition, sports dentists need to understand research protocols to help advance our current knowledge through novel research. A degree-based training programme, particularly the research element, is important for leadership skills and development of sports dentistry.

Training sports dentists can be a complex task depending on the level of education needed. There is a differentiation between those dentists that simply see the occasional athlete during their routine practising lives and those that want to be able to support athletes in their pursuit of sporting excellence.Sports dentists working ‘pitch-side' during major sporting events need additional skills, knowledge and confidence.Sports dentists can be invaluable to the medical team in several ways: planning manpower for future sporting events, supporting the medical field of play team, and undertaking essential research.The importance of modular degree-based training is reflected in the development of leadership skills, knowledge and research for future teaching/learning.

Training sports dentists can be a complex task depending on the level of education needed. There is a differentiation between those dentists that simply see the occasional athlete during their routine practising lives and those that want to be able to support athletes in their pursuit of sporting excellence.

Sports dentists working ‘pitch-side' during major sporting events need additional skills, knowledge and confidence.

Sports dentists can be invaluable to the medical team in several ways: planning manpower for future sporting events, supporting the medical field of play team, and undertaking essential research.

The importance of modular degree-based training is reflected in the development of leadership skills, knowledge and research for future teaching/learning.