Thrilling Moments in Olympic Hockey
During a thrilling Olympic men’s hockey match, Jason Schepis, the dentist for the New Jersey Devils, witnessed a dramatic moment while enjoying time at home with his children. Amidst the excitement, Team USA’s Jack Hughes suffered a brutal high-stick injury from Canada’s Sam Bennett, resulting in several of Hughes’ teeth scattering across the ice.
“We did the root canals, fixed it up. Those were his teeth,”
recalled Schepis, who had previously treated Hughes’ dental injuries from past games.
Hughes, unfazed by his injury, remarkably managed to score the overtime goal that secured America’s first gold medal in men’s hockey since the 1980 Winter Olympics. His missing teeth became emblematic of the sport, a true testament to hockey’s culture where broken teeth signify toughness, often referred to in the amusing phrase “spittin’ chiclets,” which is also the name of a well-known hockey podcast.
The Role of Dental Professionals in Hockey
Hockey’s physical demands create a critical need for dental professionals on every NHL team, with dentists present at games ready to respond to any mouth-related injuries.
“When there is an injury to the mouth, our physicians are like, ‘Oh yeah, we’re so happy you’re here because we would not have been able to do that,’”
noted Mark Nishimura, the dentist for the San Jose Sharks.
Indeed, the urgency and unpredictability of injuries vary, as seen in past incidents where players like Joe Pavelski and Keith Yandle faced severe dental trauma yet remarkably returned to the ice following treatment.
Team dentists are often involved in emergency situations, addressing various injuries ranging from cuts and fractures to extensive damage caused by pucks or sticks. Longtime Capitals dentist Tom Lenz shared his experience in handling injuries under immense pressure, stating,
“You never know till you get back there, so you always have to be ready to just jump in and take care of it.”
The role of these dentists goes beyond merely fixing teeth; they provide immediate triage to ensure athletes can continue to compete at their best.
Dental Challenges Faced by Players
The support and expertise of practicing dental professionals are even needed for visitors during games involving their teams. In a recent incident, Schepis ruled out Chicago’s Connor Bedard due to a broken jaw, demonstrating the extensive responsibilities of team dentists.
Amidst the grit of professional hockey, players like Alex Ovechkin have encountered noteworthy dental experiences, such as losing teeth due to injuries. Ovechkin opted for an implant soon after the injury but later lost it, integrating the gap into his distinctive hockey persona. Similarly, as Hughes embraces his gap-toothed smile, he humorously assured talk show host Jimmy Fallon that it would not become his permanent look.
Brenden Dillon, a seasoned player now with the New Jersey Devils, reflects on the high risk of dental injuries in hockey compared to other sports, emphasizing,
“It feels like once a game at least somebody’s getting dinged up with something.”
This sentiment is echoed by the dental professionals, who acknowledge that hockey players often endure pain with remarkable resolve, sometimes asking to minimize treatment time to return to the game rapidly.
Improvements and Ongoing Challenges
The advent of mandatory visors has led to a reduction in injuries, marking a positive shift in the culture. Nonetheless, the sacrifices and resilience shown by players for the love of the game remain evident. Schepis recalled instances where he performed root canals during the late hours, likening the nature of sports dentistry to being perpetually ready for emergencies. As players continue to put their bodies on the line, the presence of hockey dentists remains indispensable, ensuring that the spirit of the game endures, even when teeth do not.
