Filling hockey's gaps.

Disdain for the dental effects of rough play on the ice has long been the norm in the National Hockey League. For decades, hockey players all seemed to have big gaps in their smiles--and dental, damage was known as "spittin' Chiclets." But players' attitudes toward their teeth are evolving. In amateur hockey, players wear either mouth guards or face masks, so most reach the pros with the majority of their teeth. Once there, they are increasingly wearing custom-made mouth guards. Those with broken teeth are having them fixed more quickly and are taking advantage of advances in dentistry. All of this comes too rate for Ken Daneyko, who retired recently after 20 seasons as a New Jersey Devils defenseman. Daneyko lost 12 front teeth to sticks, pucks, and punches during his career: seven lower and five upper.