MOUTHFUL O' PUCK
June 06 2010
As a youth I was an avid hockey fan. The Chicago
Blackhawks of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita was my team.
Years of Hawks mismanagement and the overexpansion of
the NHL alienated my affections and I defected to
basketball during the Jordan era. The 2010 Blackhawks
are the most exciting of any current professional
sports team and I am enjoying these playoff series
once again.
Blackhawk defenseman, Duncan Keith took a puck to the face when he got in the path of a zone clearing pass by a San Jose Shark player during Sunday’s NHL playoff game. Keith had seven of his upper and lower anterior teeth sheared off at the gum-line. This type of injury, referred to by the players as “spitting Chiclets,” is an all too common occurrence in this day and age.
As a dentist from Hinsdale, Illinois, I am surprised that the hockey players of this generation continue to eschew the use of readily available and comfortable mouth and tooth protection while playing this most dangerous sport. I do not know about the type of mouth guard Keith was wearing. In any case, the impact of such a direct hit may still have caused serious tooth damage. Certainly, the flimsy mouth guard sported by teammate Patrick Kane offers no protection whatsoever considering that he chews on it as it hangs outside his mouth most of the time he is on ice and off. This being said, I cannot imagine that affixing a protective cage to the helmet would interfere greatly with vision, movement or comfort. I have not seen the protective gear that the junior players wear, but I’d bet it is more substantial than that worn by the pros.
I was introduced to hockey in the era when no one wore helmets and no goalies wore masks! I remember a Life Magazine issue which had a cover graphic displaying the scars on the face of the famous Detroit Redwing goal tender, Terry Sawchuck. He was not smiling in that photo. I doubt that he had teeth to smile with.
Since the incident on Sunday, I have been surprised at the cavalier attitude in the press and blogosphere which trivializes the loss of one’s teeth. Ask a denture wearer or someone who has lost their teeth in a less preventable way about what a life changing experience it is. Modern dentistry has some effective and beautiful materials and techniques which will allow the eventual restoration of Duncan Keith’s structure and chewing function. However, it will never be as good as the natural teeth he has lost. In my practice, I see many injuries sustained in sports that do not enforce the use of mouth guards. These include basketball and soccer. I hope Keith’s injury encourages the parents and coaches of young athletes to advocate the use of quality mouth and tooth protection.
Blackhawk defenseman, Duncan Keith took a puck to the face when he got in the path of a zone clearing pass by a San Jose Shark player during Sunday’s NHL playoff game. Keith had seven of his upper and lower anterior teeth sheared off at the gum-line. This type of injury, referred to by the players as “spitting Chiclets,” is an all too common occurrence in this day and age.
As a dentist from Hinsdale, Illinois, I am surprised that the hockey players of this generation continue to eschew the use of readily available and comfortable mouth and tooth protection while playing this most dangerous sport. I do not know about the type of mouth guard Keith was wearing. In any case, the impact of such a direct hit may still have caused serious tooth damage. Certainly, the flimsy mouth guard sported by teammate Patrick Kane offers no protection whatsoever considering that he chews on it as it hangs outside his mouth most of the time he is on ice and off. This being said, I cannot imagine that affixing a protective cage to the helmet would interfere greatly with vision, movement or comfort. I have not seen the protective gear that the junior players wear, but I’d bet it is more substantial than that worn by the pros.
I was introduced to hockey in the era when no one wore helmets and no goalies wore masks! I remember a Life Magazine issue which had a cover graphic displaying the scars on the face of the famous Detroit Redwing goal tender, Terry Sawchuck. He was not smiling in that photo. I doubt that he had teeth to smile with.
Since the incident on Sunday, I have been surprised at the cavalier attitude in the press and blogosphere which trivializes the loss of one’s teeth. Ask a denture wearer or someone who has lost their teeth in a less preventable way about what a life changing experience it is. Modern dentistry has some effective and beautiful materials and techniques which will allow the eventual restoration of Duncan Keith’s structure and chewing function. However, it will never be as good as the natural teeth he has lost. In my practice, I see many injuries sustained in sports that do not enforce the use of mouth guards. These include basketball and soccer. I hope Keith’s injury encourages the parents and coaches of young athletes to advocate the use of quality mouth and tooth protection.