INTRODUCTION:
Dental injuries are considered a public health problem, as they cause functional, aesthetic, psychosocial and financial damage to the individual¹. They represent an important intersection between dentistry and sports, with impacts on public health².

METHODS:
This is an observational and cross-sectional study conducted with 284 athletes (coaches, professionals, semi-professionals, and amateurs) from 17 academies offering combat sports in Vitória, Brazil. Data collection was carried out in October and November 2024 using a questionnaire containing sociodemographic information, sport modality, and occurrence of dental trauma during combat sports. Descriptive analysis was performed.

RESULTS:
Most participants were male (n=203; 71.48%), single (n=142; 50%), and practitioners of Jiu-Jitsu (n=79; 27.82%) and kickboxing (n=77; 27.11%). The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries was 6.69% (n=19).

DISCUSSION:
The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries observed in this study reinforces the relevance of dental trauma as a public health issue in the context of contact sports. Even with a relatively low prevalence, traumatic dental injuries represent events with potential long-term consequences for oral health, quality of life, and access to dental care. From a collective health perspective, the identification of dental trauma among athletes highlights the need for preventive strategies and public policies that incorporate oral health into sports-related contexts. The prevalence found in this study suggests that traumatic dental injuries should be understood not only as clinical events, but also as conditions that require surveillance, health promotion, and integration between health services and sports institutions.

CONCLUSIONS:
Traumatic dental injuries were present among contact sports athletes, indicating the need to strengthen preventive actions and public health strategies in sports settings.