Training sports dentists: a role in elite sport and society

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.