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 Getting back to playing after wisdom teeth surgery?
Author: Le9669 
Date:   2010-12-19 22:04

May I please get some advice on getting back into shape after getting all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed? It's been 13 days since the surgery, I've picked the horn up and I sound very unpolished and it feels unfamiliar, which I assume is normal. I'd love to get back into shape ASAP, I've recovered quite well, so I can afford to spend time.

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 Re: Getting back to playing after wisdom teeth surgery?
Author: gsurosey 
Date:   2010-12-20 00:03

How do you feel pain-wise? If the pain is gone, I have some suggestions. I am by no means an expert, but I have had 3 out of my 4 taken out (the 4th actually will come out in a few weeks on January 6th; I've already informed my studio teacher I won't be at my lesson the next day).

(Everybody: Please correct me if I'm wrong in my assumptions)

~ Start back slow in terms of practice time and build back up as you can tolerate it.
~ Long tones as opposed to super technical stuff until you get your feel back.
~ Feeling different is normal. You have fewer teeth in your mouth, thus creating more open space. You'll get used to it.

I've started working on a couple reeds, but I'm not sure how happy I am with one of them (the tip looks like the left corner is cut lower than the right and it feels funny; I'm trying to salvage it). After my surgery, that may be all I do for a few days is to try to work on another reed or 2 and possibly not touch my music. Of course, that's the plan. We'll have to see how long I ignore the folder, especially since new orchestra music comes out the day before my surgery.

Rachel

----------
Rachel

Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max

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 Re: Getting back to playing after wisdom teeth surgery?
Author: Le9669 
Date:   2010-12-20 00:19

Pain-wise, it's only discomfort not my body resisting but it's more like my body telling me to adapt. Sort of like wearing a new dress instead of tripping and falling down the stairs. On a side note, I like the reed idea.

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 Re: Getting back to playing after wisdom teeth surgery?
Author: Bob Bernardo 
Date:   2010-12-20 05:54

When your teeth are removed the rest of your teeth will move around a bit.

Take your time letting things settle. Perhaps around 6 months or so. At first you probably won't like your sound. Give it time and you will bounce back.


Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces


Yamaha Artist 2015




Post Edited (2010-12-20 05:59)

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 Re: Getting back to playing after wisdom teeth surgery?
Author: Le9669 
Date:   2010-12-20 14:31

I don't have 6 months.

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 Re: Getting back to playing after wisdom teeth surgery?
Author: Caroline Smale 
Date:   2010-12-20 18:55

The muscles that control your embouchure radiate quite a long way back from your lips. The cheek area is an important part of the supporting scaffold for your embouchure so having wisdom teeth removed weakens this support somewhat and your cheek muscles will need time to develop more strength to replace the support that the underlying wisdom teeth used to provide.
It will probably take some weeks even months of practice to let the muscles build up to regain your original "feel".



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 Re: Getting back to playing after wisdom teeth surgery?
Author: Bob Bernardo 
Date:   2010-12-21 02:41

Ask your dentist for advice on practicing and how long it will take for the bones to heal. Maybe it will only take a 2 months. When I had them removed it seemed to take a long time before I was satisfied with my sound.

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 Re: Getting back to playing after wisdom teeth surgery?
Author: grifffinity 
Date:   2010-12-21 05:15

If you got the OK from your surgeon, start playing. I got the OK 1 week after surgery, but it took me another full week to get strength back in my lower jaw. I had all four out at the same time, but the bottom two were impacted and I had a lot of swelling in my lower jaw area for a full week after surgery. I was 19 at the time.

First, Don't worry...what you are experiencing sounds very normal. You should start with a few minutes several times throughout the day to get the muscles back into shape. Don't do more than you can....if you feel fatigue in the muscles take a break...work in shorter increments to build up strength. Better to do 1/2 hour the first day in 10 minute burst you can handle than 1/2 hour straight, but biting your lip, etc. to maintain "control" and overcompensating in some other way.

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