Jack Hughes Wins Gold With New Chiclets After Injury

Jack Hughes, the 24-year-old forward for Team USA, scored in overtime for a 2-1 win and America's first gold in men's hockey since 1980, after taking a stick to the mouth from Canada's Sam Bennett.

He lost at least one full tooth and shards of others, which were later found on the ice.

The New Jersey Devils team dentist, Jason Schepis, had repaired those teeth before after Hughes took a high stick in the playoffs a few years ago.

Schepis knew those teeth and recalled doing the root canals and fixing them up.

Hughes' gap-toothed grin became the picture-perfect encapsulation of a sport where missing teeth is a badge of honor.

Hockey players tend to shake off injuries, and Hughes was no exception, scoring in overtime for the win.

Every team has a dentist, and these specialists join team doctors and other medical staff at every single NHL game, ready to jump into action when the need arises.

San Jose Sharks dentist Mark Nishimura said that when there is an injury to the mouth, physicians are happy to have them on hand.

Nishimura was handed Joe Pavelski's teeth following a puck to the jaw during the 2019 playoffs, which resulted in a goal.

Keith Yandle lost nine teeth in 2019 and returned to the game, playing 168 more in a row.

Brent Burns took a wayward stick to the face in 2013, knocking out three teeth, and has since skated in over 1,000 games in a row.

Chris Clark needed three hours of surgery involving braces, screws, and a cadaver bone after a puck ramped off his stick into his mouth in 2006.

Hockey dentistry is about triage, according to Chris Clark, who calls hockey dentists "triage doctors".

Longtime Capitals dentist Tom Lenz has seen it all, including driving players to his office at night when time is of the essence.

Lenz got nervous in his early days over two decades ago, but now he's ready to jump in and take care of any mouth injury.

The home dentist is responsible for the visiting team, too, and consults with other doctors in the building.

Jason Schepis ruled out Chicago's Connor Bedard in early 2024 due to a broken jaw.

Schepis was on the road when Hughes took a stick to the mouth from Jordan Staal in a series.

Hughes' injury was not the only one Schepis has dealt with, but it's a reminder of the importance of NHL dentists.