Prevalence and Severity of Oral Conditions in Elite Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Oral health problems are common among elite athletes, yet the evidence remains fragmented and inconsistent. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and severity of oral conditions in elite athletes through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Studies published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, with observational design, available in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, Dentistry & Oral Science Source, and LILACS databases until 5 January 2025, were included. A narrative synthesis was used to describe the studies, and a meta-analysis of prevalences was performed using a random-effects model. Study quality assessment was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools. Results: A total of 10 articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The overall combined prevalence of caries was found to be 44.4% (95%CI: 33.9-55.1%), the prevalence of dental erosion was 36.5% (95%CI: 22.6-51.7%), the prevalence of gingivitis was 41.4% (95%CI: 14.7-71%), the prevalence of pericoronitis was 18.7% (95%CI: 2.3-45.4%), the prevalence of periodontitis was 10.8% (95%CI: 2.7-23.3%) and the prevalence of orofacial trauma was 15.6% (95%CI: 5.3-29.7%). High heterogeneity was observed across studies. Most studies presented limitations related to participant recruitment and sample size adequacy. Conclusions: Dental caries, gingivitis, and dental erosion are highly prevalent among elite athletes, underscoring the importance of integrating oral health assessments into sports medicine care. High heterogeneity across studies limits the precision of prevalence estimates, emphasizing the need for standardized methodologies in future research.