 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Michele
Date: 2001-03-31 23:58
Hi y'all,
I am a little concerned about something someone wrote on here. He said that he had to wear braces in high school because the clarinet moved his teeth. (He later switched to a double lip embouchure). I am returning to clarinet playing after a about 15 years of no playing. I played for about 10 years. Well, my front two teeth stick out ever so slightly and now I am worried that my clarinet playing did it. I always thought that was just the way my teeth came in. So, here I am getting ready to start playing again (as soon as I find me a decent clarinet) and I am worried about my teeth! I always played single lipped. Should I try double lip? I am 38 years old and I really don't want to mess my teeth up. I can't see myself wearing braces this late in the game.
michele
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-04-01 00:04
Michele,
I'm not an orthodontist, but I've played for years without a problem using single lip.
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Anji
Date: 2001-04-01 01:10
While there are old stories about thumb-sucking leading to an over-bite, there is no outcry over horn playing.
With all the sax players and clarinet blowers out there, you would have likely seen something about this on Hard Copy or the Jerry Springer show.
Unless your teeth are loose (which may be indicative of more general health problems) this is one less thing to worry over.
If you are experiencing pain in either jaw from playing, you may be bearing down to control the reed. Also, some mouthpiece contours are rather "high" and may not match the natural curve of your incisors.
anji
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jim
Date: 2001-04-01 04:51
I got the genes for straight teeth, and they have stayed that way over 40 years of on and off clarinet playing. My brother got the crooked teeth gene, and had extensive orthodontia, His teeth are still straight, but he played the drums! My son got the crooked teeth gene as well, 5 years of orthodontia (about $5,000 worth!) later, his teeth were beautiful but started moving back. After much investigating, the clarinet playing was suspected. At the suggestion of the general Dentist he is wearing retainers much past the time he otherwise would have. The movement has stopped, and his teeth are still great looking and functioning well. He plays both sop. and bass for a total of 2 hrs a day minimum.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike Irish
Date: 2001-04-01 08:00
I dont think the clarinet playing in itself would cause the overbit problem..
I think most people have a slight overbit, my brother had an underbite and he plyed the clar and had no problems with it, until he had his work done to correct it, and then he had to basicly learn the embrochment over again, for his "new mouth"
teeth that have been moved once, might be more apt to move again, like elastic, or plastics and such, there is some what of a memory in original location until all the bone and muscle tissue has completely grown back.
if you are in your 40's, I dont think I would worry too much about it. the way I feel, I try to do all I can to enjoy life, cause my body is starting to fall apart, and I do not know how long I will be able to enjoy life.....
have fun....
God Bless.......
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-04-01 13:03
If you force any solid material out of its original, stable, fixed shape or position it will have a tendence to return at least part of the way once the forcing agent is removed. I believe this is a universal truth of mechanical engineering. When moving teeeth there are huge changes expected in the shape of supporting materials so I think this principle should apply. Perhaps orthodontists should educate patients more to expect this - I don't know.
My Nephew's teeth moved back after extensive orthodontic treatment. He did not ply the clarinet so of course the clarinet could not be blamed. I think it would be all too easy to put all the blame on the clarinet for a phenomenon that is somewhat expected without a clarinet being involved. I would be just a wee bit skeptical if my dentist blamed a clarinet because that would so conveniently shift the finger from pointing to himself re expectations and successful outcome.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jerry
Date: 2001-04-01 13:38
Let's line all the woodwind players up (professionals & otherwise).
Does anyone think they will all show "buck teeth"?
Did Benny Goodman have a goofy smile? I haven't noticed anything unusual on the record jacket photos of the albums of the pro players I've seen - maybe they were touched up.
Like someone said, the best source is your DDS - my belief is that, for the most part, this is a genetic problem.
~ jerry
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-04-01 16:42
I have only been playing sax and clarinet for around 35 years, and I have only been a dentist for 24 years. As a pediatric dentist I have had a significant ammount of training in orthodontics. I am lisenced only in California, so if you are in another state or country my comments obviously will not apply to you.
I have often heard the concerns about woodwind instruments causing or accentuating an "over-bite" or " "buck teeth" ( I prefer the term "Ellis Class II malocclusion"). I have never seen any occlusal (bite) changes in a child I could attribute to instrumental playing. The teeth respond to the forces applied to them. The fastest movement occurs with light and long term force application. Heavy forces have much less effect on tooth position, especially if they are delivered for short times. Clarinet playing delivers heavy forces for relatively short durration. Few kids really practice for legnthy periods of time (and not the 8-12 hours a day required to cause real problems). Even those who do spend greater periods without the clarinet in their mouth allowing the light forces of the cheeks and lips to act (as usual) on the teeth and counteract the forces from the instrument.
As for orthodontic relapse. This occurs naturally to some extent. If the orthodontist is able to leave the patient with the occlusion well balanced and in harmony with the facial musculature then relapse will be minimal. Ever see a retainer? These are good for maintaining treatment results, conscientious wear of retainers should eliminate the risk of your playing causing relapse. In addition the orthodontist may choose to place bonded retainers on the tongue side of the lower and possibly upper teeth, these remain in place 24 hours a day.
If you have an acceptable "bite", and are an adult starting out on clarinet, it is unlikely you would have any significant tooth movement. If you are worried about this your dentist could construct a mouth guard or "tooth positioner" appliance you could wear at night like a retainer, or even wear it while playing. However if you have periodontal (gum) disease the teeth may be mobile due to insufficient bony support. So if you want to explore the possibility of a mouth guard or rule out the presence of periodontal disease a trip to the dentist is warranted.
Applying forces to the teeth such as finger/thumb sucking do cause severe orthodontic changes, but these are greater than anything you could ever cause with a clarinet because they are usually applied by a toddler throughout the day and night, and durring a period in which the jaws are growing and developing.
I really wouldn't worry a lot about the possibility of moving your teeth due to clarinet playing because you mave much weightier problems to deal with such as R-13 or Opus.
Respectively submitted, Terry Horlick (D.M.D.)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Michele
Date: 2001-04-01 17:00
I appreciate everyone's response (especially the dentist!) I feel much better about the whole thing. I had rationalized it to myself saying that there a gazillon clarinet and sax player surely this can't be a problem but I still had a little doubt. Now if I could just find me a decent clarinet at the right price.......
Michele
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jerry
Date: 2001-04-01 18:05
Michele,
"Now if I could just find me a decent clarinet at the right price....... "
Thought you were going to say, "...dentist at the right price"
OOPS!
Terry,
"( I prefer the term "Ellis Class II malocclusion")."
After all these years, I didn't know that this is what my problem is.
~ jerry
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Meredith
Date: 2001-04-01 23:32
You really shouldn't have that much pressure on your top teeth if you are playing with the correct technique anyway. I was told to place my top teeth on the mouthpiece but under no circumstances was I to apply pressure to these teeth and actually bite the mouth piece. I did have really buck teeth, had braces during high school and they still look great despite serveral years of clarinet playing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-04-02 03:10
Michele:
Listen to "Terry H...." the dentist. I have played the clarinet for OVER 60 years and DO NOT have buck teeth. I have taught students who had buck teeth to play the clarinet. If you develop buck teeth, it will not be the fault of the clarinet mouthpiece. Again, LISTEN TO THE DENTIST!!!
Bob Curtis
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-04-02 12:45
It is so reasuring when a professional says something that has a ring of truth. I so often hear what seems a learned 'party line' which just doesn't seem quite right. Thanks Terry.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: George
Date: 2001-04-02 14:01
Terry Horlick, DDS, wrote "I am lisenced only in California, so if you are in another state or country my
comments obviously will not apply to you."
With, I suppose, tongue in cheek, which might do bad things to your cheek.
I knew something funny happened to the truth in California!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DrBert
Date: 2001-04-04 22:23
Only problem I see is that you might start to wear into the top of your mpc. I had a friend that had that problem, she kept putting indentations into the top of the mpc... that can be solved by those little mpc patches you can get for almost nothing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
