Being A Dentist For Colorado Avalanche No Laughing Matter

DENVER - Mike Ricci is many things to many people: Hockey heartthrob to many Colorado Avalanche female fans and a subject of mystery to the male fans who just don't get his appeal.

He's also Scarborough, Ontario's, gift to dentistry.

Ricci is to the dental profession what the defunct Renault Alliance was to car mechanics: a steady source of revenue, but, geez, what about the other people that need repairs, too?

It's not Stephen Barker's place to complain, however. As the official dentist of the Avalanche, Barker is paid to keep a reclining chair open to Ricci or any player who might need anything from a cleaning to a bridge job as long as the one spanning San Francisco Bay.

Barker knows his beeper can go off any time, any place with a call from a toothless Av. Such as Christmas Eve. While some people were opening a present or two a day early, Barker was opening Ricci's molars - six of them, to be exact.

"That was quite a day," Barker said. "It was just me and him on Christmas Eve, having fun in the dentist office."

Maybe that's why getting Ricci to show up for his appointment with Barker last week was like trying to, well, pull teeth. Ricci wanted to get a crown put on a tooth because his girlfriend, Beth, was coming into town from Ontario.

"But, let's face it, we're not the most fun people to come visit," Barker said.

So, Ricci didn't. But, actually, Ricci doesn't mind bringing his always-under-construction mouth into Barker's office. The reason: "Laughing gas. I like the laughing gas he gives us. That helps ease the pain a little. We have a good, old time in there sometimes," Ricci said.

Having a professional hockey team as a dental client, you might think Barker is laughing all the way to the bank. Surprisingly, though, he says Avalanche players have a high "dental IQ."

OK, so maybe none will show up on the cover of "Pearly Whites" magazine anytime soon, but Barker said the stereotype of hockey players and their disregard for dental practices is a myth.

"For the most part, they are very conscientious of their teeth. I think, as hockey players and some of the things they go through, they are more aware of potential problems than many in the general public," Barker said.

There is another myth out there about hockey players and their teeth. Losing a tooth is not something to take pride in, or hang on their machismo belts.

"Personally, I like chewing my food," Avs right wing Claude Lemieux said. "I don't want to walk the street with no teeth."

Still, images of former Philadelphia Flyers great Bobby Clarke baring a less-than-toothy grin after his team's Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and '75 are part of hockey lore. And stories continue of players playing with pain, albeit from suddenly having no teeth.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko had several front teeth knocked out from a hit in a game this season, but kept playing with them lodged in his mouthguard.

"But we don't like that when it happens," Ricci said. "Losing all your teeth isn't fun. It hurts."

But you won't catch Ricci wearing a mouthguard. Despite the fact that it might prevent a tooth from chipping, he, like many players, doesn't like the restrictive feel of it in his mouth. Plus, he can't yap at opponents the way he likes to.

Barker estimates about half the players on the Avs are missing at least one tooth from playing hockey. He advises them to wear a mouthguard, but not everybody heeds the suggestion. Barker said not only can a mouthguard protect the teeth superficially, but also can help prevent concussions.

"But some players chew through the guard or just don't feel comfortable with it, so it's up to them," Barker said.

Ricci lost several front teeth in a collision when he was playing junior hockey at age 15. He had extensive bridgework done, and when not on the ice he flashes a complete, toothy smile. But he takes the bridge out for games, leaving him with a dental gap that would make David Letterman cringe.

Ricci likes to tell the story of the time when yet another female admirer told him how cute he was one night, he took out his bridgework and said, "Do you still think I'm good looking now?"

"Now, that's all people want me to do, is take it out and show them," Ricci said.

Barker has seen worse dental problems, however. He also was the dentist to the Denver Grizzlies their one year in town. One night, defenseman Milan Tichy lost six front teeth after a gruesome collision.

"That was about the worst case I've seen yet," said Barker.

Barker's connections with the Grizzlies gave him a leg up on the competition to land the contract with the Avalanche. Still, Barker had to write letters to team management and win over general manager Pierre Lacroix.

In addition to working a regular schedule in his office, being the team dentist means Barker must go to every Avalanche game to handle any emergencies. But that's OK with him. Barker, 40, grew up a big hockey fan in Minnesota, and would go to the games even if he wasn't the team dentist.

Only one thing would make Barker happier than seeing the Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup champions, however: When the time comes to say "cheese" for the team picture, he wants to see lots of bright shiny teeth.