Klarinet Archive - Posting 000064.txt from 2005/11
From: Nancy Buckman <eefer@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: TMJ
Date: Sat, 05 Nov 2005 14:57:22 -0500
Hi Juan,
I don't speak Spanish, so give me a day or two and I will send you a reply,
trying to answer your questions in simple English. This is a big step and
I can tell you right now that you want to go to a dental school, which is
where you will get the best treatment (at least that is the way it works in
the USA). My experience with dentistry in Europe has not been good and
this is why I recommend a dental school. Everything should be state of the
art. If it isn't and music is of vital importance to you (it looks like
that is how you make your living), you might want to consider coming here
to have you treatment completed, if possible. It is absolutely necessary
that your oral surgeon must be extremely knowledgeable where "your" anatomy
is concerned. You need an orthodontist who is certified and is willing to
work "with" you while treating you. That means giving you time to adjust
to each adjustment to your appliance before making the next
adjustment. You need to be able to execute all skills after each
adjustment before the orthodontist makes the next one. That way, after
your surgery, when it is time to start playing again, all you will really
have to adjust to is the change in the relationship of upper jaw to lower
jaw. It won't be such a huge challenge if you proceed this way. Having
doctors who are willing to "work with you" is vital. You must have
"absolute" faith in their ability to give you correct treatment. You want
the very best medical-dental team that you can find. You life and future
livelihood depends on them.
Let me put together the answers to your questions and then you can ask the
next round of questions. Keep in mind that this can, and should be the
best thing you do for your musical future, if you proceed carefully. I
have been pain free with no problems since my final surgery in 1994. It
took four years of preparation with the orthodontist and surgeon and I owe
them my musical life.
While you wait, do a search on-line and check out these things:
History of orthodontics
Palate expanders (they widen your upper jaw) and bionators (they lengthen
your lower jaw)
Edgewise and Begg bracket systems
You may find that you want to question your orthodontist about which of
these different appliances are appropriate for you. Some of them can save
you having to undergo some of the surgical procedures. Others will help
shorten the length of your treatment time. My orthodontist was open to
letting me choose the system used to move my teeth. It meant fewer visits
to his office and longer periods between adjustments. That translated into
more playing time for me with less pain and suffering while being
treated. Learn all you can about what happens when teeth are moved,
especially if they are moved too quickly. Because you will be playing
instruments that put pressure on the bones in your face, you need to make
sure that you don't progress too quickly. In order to move teeth, your
bone literally has to be dissolved and reformed. Therefore, you need to
have enough of it present at all times to support the pressure exerted by
your instruments. And don't let anyone tell you that you can't play and be
treated at the same time. You absolutely can. It is more work for you
treatment team, but there is no reason you can't do this your way. They
must understand that music is your life and you need to be able to play
while undergoing treatment.
You have a lot to learn. I'll write back with your answers
tomorrow. Meanwhile spend some time on-line researching the subjects above
to get you started.
My best,
Nancy
Nancy Buckman
Principal Clarinet / Orchestra AACC
eefer@-----.net
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