Klarinet Archive - Posting 000071.txt from 1999/07

From: "Mark Weinstein" <cpaok@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Uneven Teeth
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 1999 14:01:44 -0400

Karl, its a real PITA ain't it ? Yes, I HAD the same problem. (inspite of
the money spent on braces many years ago)

Let me share my solution. I went to my friendly dentist and showed him the
"irritating problem". Quickly, using a mold, he made a plaster model of my
bottom teeth. Then, he took some poly/vinyl/plastic materials which had a
thicknes of .035" and we made a 2-3" "retainer" over those teeth in a little
oven that he had ---- the retainer fits over my teeth perfectly. It comes
down on either side just short of my gumline.

My dentist said if any thinner, I would probably cut through the retainer's
material eventually. He says at present thickness its unlikely I will
cut/wear through, although it might crack from age. I had him make 3. He
gave me the mold and said "protect with your life" <grin> That was 6-7
months ago. Gone is my irritation. No difference to my playing, virtually no
adjustment in embouchure was required --- now it feels funny when I
occasionaly forget to put my "retainer" on. Cost shouldn't be a material
factor.

Anyway. this worked for me.

Mark Weinstein

In response to:

Karl Krelove <kkrelove@-----.com>

>I spent several months as a college student struggling with chirpy
chalumeau
>notes and difficulty in maintaining an embouchure. My bottom front teeth
are
>uneven to the extent that the exposed corner of the higher tooth causes
>constant irritation in my lip if I don't cover it with something (I use
>pieces of an EZO pad, but we've had several other suggestions posted here
in
>the past). I doubt, from my own experience, if the unevenness itself is
>causing the problems you're describing, but if your student is, consciously
>or otherwise, distorting her embouchure even a little to avoid any pain the
>uneven teeth may cause her, that could (for me _did_ for a time) cause
>exactly the problems you say she's having. Any kind of covering that will
>smooth out any sharp edges along her bottom teeth may help. EZO pad
>material, athletic mouth protectors, or any of several other materials have
>been recommended by different members of the list. One problem is that,
from
>my own experience at least, the whistles and chirps may not go away
>immediately because the unconscious distortions will have become habit.
>
>This presupposes, of course, that there is no other obvious cause -
>unbalanced reeds, an unresponsive mouthpiece or mouthpiece/reed
combination,
>leaks in the clarinet, obvious embouchure distortions that are unrelated to
>the uneven teeth, etc... Anything that causes her to force a sound instead
>of producing one easily can also cause much of the problem you've
described.

and

>From: Chris Waller <cwaller@-----.au>
>Hello everyone,
>I have a student who seems to be having difficulty with embouchure control,
>particularly in the low register. The reed often 'whistles' on written
>low-reg B and B flat. She has uneven teeth in the lower jaw- that is,
uneven
>in a vertical sense. There is a slight dip in the middle with higher teeth
>either side. Could her teeth be causing this problem, and would it help to
>build up the middle tooth so that they were all in the same plane? In other
>respects she is a very good player. I would appreciate any help in this
>matter. Thanks in advance>

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