Dental problems in athletes

The high performance standards required of an Olympic athlete can only be attained by a totally healthy individual. Optimal dental health is a necessary element. The universality of dental disease can be altered by modern prevention modalities and self-administered hygiene. Nonetheless, any dental or medical program of care should be prepared for the treatment of dental disease and trauma. Suggested is a program of prevention and treatment grounded in modern basic science and dealing with the overlay of the sociopsychological phenomena, which is an essential part of effective health care.