344 Oral health status of olympic and paralympic athletes: a comparative study

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Introduction and Purpose Oral health is increasingly recognised as a factor influencing performance in elite sport, yet comparative data between Olympic and Paralympic athletes remain limited. This study aimed to; 1. examine the prevalence of oral health conditions 2. identify associated factors on the disparities between the two groups 3. evaluate the utility of the polyclinic database for research and future development.Material and Methods This secondary analysis used dental polyclinic records from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including 443 Olympic and 202 Paralympic athletes. Descriptive statistics and group comparisons (Chi-square, t-tests) were followed by multivariable logistic regression to examine associations between oral health outcomes and demographic or clinical factors. Ethical approval was obtained (UCL Ethics ID: 27563.001).Results Paralympic athletes exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of caries (32.4%) and periodontal diseases (35.2%) compared to Olympic athletes (18.6% and 26.5%, respectively). Logistic regression confirmed that athlete classification was a significant predictor for both conditions. Paralympic athletes had 1.68 times higher odds of caries (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.36–2.09, p < 0.0001) and 1.25 times higher odds of periodontal diseases (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03–1.52, p = 0.0241). Mouthguard provision was more prevalent among Olympic athletes (28.6%).Conclusion This study highlights both a high burden of oral diseases and disparities in oral health between Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Para-athletes had higher rates of oral health conditions such as caries and periodontal disease. Olympic athletes showed greater use of mouthguards. The findings support the need for equitable dental care and the integration of preventive strategies into sports medicine.

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