The Winter Olympics are here, and while hundreds of hockey players await their chance for a medal in Sochi, Russia, will their smiles be ready for the cameras? Hockey players have long exhibited a lackadaisical attitude towards tooth loss. Seeing knocked out teeth as an occupational hazard, many tough guys on the ice will spit a tooth out of their mouth following a tough hit and keep right on playing. If you are a hockey fan, you’ve probably seen quite a few missing teeth from the grins of your favorite team. Highland Park cosmetic dentist, Dr. Brent Engelberg is a sports fan, and as such he’s happy to see that dental protection is becoming more of a trend in the sport.
No Teeth; No Problem?
When an athlete makes it to the professional level, they have proven that they are willing to eat, sleep, and breathe their sport. For hockey players, this has often meant no vanity about their appearance. It’s a rough sport. Broken noses, gaping cuts, and missing teeth have long been considered war wounds to feel proud about, or at least not to worry about. The game must go on. In fact, a lack of concern for dislodged teeth has run so rampant in hockey that the term ”spittin’ Chiclets” is used to describe incidents of tooth loss during a game. Many players don’t even bother fixing their teeth since they’re liable to become damaged again.
Turning Tide
Luckily, hockey dentistry and the attitude of players has started to evolve. In many amateur hockey leagues, players are required to wear mouthguards, face masks, or both. This means that a lot of the up and coming players in the National Hockey League (NHL) are already in the habit of wearing mouthguards. Even if dental protection in professional hockey is not a requirement in the future, the trend will hopefully turn as more players realize how nice it is to be able to flash a nice full grin of natural teeth after winning a big game.
Visit your Highland Park Cosmetic Dentist
To reach our 60035 dentist office, call 847-259-8030. We are happy to serve patients in Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, Northwest Chicago Suburbs, and Northern Chicago Suburbs.
