Klarinet Archive - Posting 000287.txt from 2002/04

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] teeth.
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 09:46:31 -0400

A friend of mine and fellow clarinetist had her wisdom teeth pulled
about a month ago, and somehow a nerve was indeed damaged in the pro-
cess. The entire right side of her tongue is now numb and has not
improved since the tooth extraction occurred. She is unable to taste
any food on that side of her tongue, nor is she able to detect temper-
ature. During a recent test with a doctor, she couldn't feel it when
he poked a two pronged spike into that side of her tongue, much less
tell him how many prongs there were, in fact (she was blindfolded).
This loss of sensitivity has impaired her ability to properly voice
notes throughout the range of her instrument, and the numbness ex-
tends to the tip, meaning she is also unable to determine what her
tongue is doing during articulation.

Needless to say, she is under great emotional stress, and the quality
of her life has been dramatically affected. It recently occurred to
her that filing a lawsuit against her former dentist may become a nec-
essary action in order to recoup funds for corrective investigation
and surgery, if those are treatment options.

As with any medical issue, don't be shy. Ask questions. Lots of them,
and don't let your medical professional brush off or attempt to minimize
the validity of your concerns, even if you yourself recognize that there
is a degree of naivete' and/or paranoia associated with your questions.
Be certain that you feel comfortable with the knowledge you've acquired
and the answers that you've received before consenting to undergo any
treatment, whatever the issue. Get second and third opinions if the is-
sue is serious or sensitive enough, in your estimation. It's your body,
and your life, and you are the one who will have to live with the results
of the procedure. I've had doctors and dentists become resistant and in-
dignant to my questions, and I've told these people point-blank: get the
f*&% out of the profession. And then I looked elsewhere for care.

~ Neil

--- Tony Pay <Tony@-----.uk> wrote:
> On Tue, 09 Apr 2002 12:12:15 +0100, I said:
>
> > On Mon, 08 Apr 2002 23:32:38 -0700, lucienne@-----.ca said:
> >
> > > Hello list.
> > >
> > > the dreded time has arrived when the dentist has demanded four of my
> > > wisdom teeth. the only 4 i have. and while i know i can't get out of
> > > this horrible surgery. I was wondering about the differnece in
> > > playing? have any of you in your experiences found any major
> > > differences?
> >
> > Here's a post that combines something I wrote and a response to that
> > from Gary Truesdail:
> >
> > http://www.sneezy.org/Databases/Logs/1999/03/001236.txt
>
> Given that others have said that they had no problems, I think it's very
> important for me to be more explicit about the above, rather than just
> providing the link, and risking that you don't bother clicking on it.
> The following stories show that there can be dangers.
>
> I don't want to alarm you; I just think you should be careful.
>
> A good dentist, as mine was, will be able to look at your own personal
> mouth geometry and proceed accordingly.
>
> Our two posts read:
>
> Tony:
>
> > On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 21:16:09 EST, Binkysmurf@-----.com said:
> >
> > > Hello all.
> >
> > > I have recently gotten my wisdom teeth pulled (this morning in
> > > fact). My question is this: How long before I can start playing
> > > again? All four were pulled (three impacted) and I was wondering if
> > > any of you had any personal stories or anything. Thanks so much in
> > > advance.
> >
> > This isn't a personal story of my own, but I remember that years ago
> > Gervase de Peyer had the most terrible trouble. The removal of one of
> > his upper wisdom teeth allowed air to escape from his mouth into his
> > nose (perhaps he began playing too early). Anyway, he went through a
> > period of squeaking and being unable to play properly that lasted many
> > months.
> >
> > Andrew Marriner (son of Neville, and current principal clarinet of the
> > LSO) had a different experience when the operation on his lower jaw
> > damaged a sensory nerve from his lower lip, half of which he cannot
> > now feel.
> >
> > I noticed myself questioning my dentist very closely before having one
> > of my lower wisdom teeth removed last year. He took several X-rays.
> >
> > Tony
>
> Gary:
>
> > Last year I went to get a 2nd opinion about having my wisdom teeth
> > removed. Luckily the Dr. said "if they havent moved at your age, they
> > are not going to. Don't take them out." During this visit he taught
> > me how to read the x-ray pictures. You can see the nerve you referred
> > to above. Also the teeth between the wisdom and front teeth, at least
> > in my case, have their roots extending into the lower area of the
> > sinus cavities. They are covered with a thin layer of skin-like
> > material. The Dr. said when the are pulled it can leave an open
> > passage into the sinus if you start playing too early and not allow
> > the healing process to complete itself by filling in the passage way.
> > At my age (57) this could take 2 - 6 months. A musician should really
> > be sure the dentist knows what your special situation is and you
> > should learn how to read your own x-ray films.
>
> Tony
> --
> _________ Tony Pay
> |ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
> | |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
> tel/fax 01865 553339
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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