2002 – VOLUME 31 – Issue 2

An exhaustive epidemiological survey was led with the presidents of the best ranked French Rugby Union clubs in order to estimate the prevalence of trauma and the recommendations relative to the wearing of gum shields. The same questionnaire was given to the 88 presidents of Elite 1, 2 and national 1 clubs concerned. All categories together, that is from the youngest to the oldest, 1.51 % of the players were victims of an accident declared during the last season and about half of them concerned the lower or middle part of the face. The prevalence increased with the age category, juniors and seniors having been mostly affected. It is in this last category that the wearing of gum shields was mostly recommended (96.5 % of the clubs), either during training or for matches. However, especially adapted teeth protectors were recommended by only 15 % of the clubs. In the other age categories, commercially available teeth protectors were solely advised.