 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Exiawolf
Date: 2016-08-11 09:54
Greetings all!
I recently (Last Thursday, 8/4) had all four of my wisdom teeth extracted (Atleast i wont have to worry about it in College :D). I got the ok from my oral surgeon to play already, however I'm holding off till Saturday because of general "tenderness" in the surrounding gums, and I'm having my clarinet sent in for a routine check up. It's gonna have been about a week and half when Im finally able to play, and I'm looking for tips on how to get back into the groove and return to my previous good habits, while avoiding starting bad habits. How should I go about my return to the instrument? Thanks!
PS: My Wisdom teeth never actually came in, so it's not gonna be a new "feeling" mouth wise. However, I get the sense that my embouchure and over all facial muscles will be much weaker.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2016-08-11 10:39
Good for you! Try the Robert Spring warmup practice, which included page 123 from Klose for scales, an arpeggio page probably from Langenus, and a tonguing page also from Langenus, three pages.
Although not the same as yours, I lost my upper molars a few months ago. The most significant effect was more difficulty playing the altissimo third register on saxophones. Fitting a partial plate made these notes return and possibly made the very high clarinet notes better. I felt no change in embouchure or any facial muscles during any of the situation. It seems to help the high notes to have a smaller mouth cavity.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2016-08-11 14:34
What an ideal time to switch to double-lip embouchure! At your age, it will come easily and I promise you, it's a real plus. You won't regret it.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-08-11 16:56
Just play. Play whatever scales you've always used, go back to an etude or two that you already know and can play without running into technical roadblocks. And just pay attention. If you feel tired anywhere, stop. It won't take more than a couple of days - recovering after a layoff this short isn't really a big deal once you get past the first five minutes of feeling awkward the first time you play.
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-11 18:02
I had mine taken out (one side at a time) when I was in my mid-20s and it was the best thing I had done as I used to get aches down both sides of my face and head during gigs.
I was almost tempted to go to a rehearsal the same evening after I had them taken out and slept it off, but thought it was best to let things heal up before doing any playing. I was back playing the following week.
Any sharp edges of bone (the top edges of the sockets) left beneath your gums will soon soften over time, so don't worry about them.
Use a mouthwash (such as Corsodyl) and stay away from eating nuts, seeds and rice or any other 'bitty' foods. It could get a bit tedious with soup, yoghurt, milkshakes and smooth foods for the time you're on them, but stick to them until your sockets have healed as you don't want anything to get lodged in them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2016-08-11 18:08
I didn't notice any loss in anything when returning to playing. I think I waited a week and was good to go.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-11 21:55
The worry with wisdom teeth removal is the facial nerve runs in very close proximity and could cause facial paralysis from a moderate to severe degree if it is damaged.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-08-12 00:48
Don't get discouraged when going back to playing. Your sound will surely change. It may take a few months, probably more, to get that back. When the teeth are pulled needless to say all sorts of changes will happen to your mouth. Some people bounce right back other players can take several months, if you are in pain I'd wait a bit longer, before playing, because the dentist probably isn't aware of the pressure built up inside of your mouth. Remember you now holes in your jaw! It's a bone, just like any other bone in your body. Swelling takes time to calm down.
I like the double lip idea to limit pressure. Did you know that Marcellus played with a double lip for many years? Also, totally avoid the upper register for a bit until you are pretty much pain free, probably 4 to 6 weeks.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: mddds
Date: 2016-08-12 03:47
hi there,
just wanted to clarify some things.
the facial nerve (except one branch) does not run within the oral cavity, maxilla, or mandible and is not a typical area of concern with third molar removal.
if you don't have any lingering numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue by this point, then there isn't much to worry about.
your embouchure will feel weak initially and as long as you don't over do it, you should be fine.
it will take some time.
good luck to you!
-CK
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-08-12 04:39
Kudos for having enough passion to worry about how it might affect your playing!
That said, you'll be fine. A little endurance of the facial muscles I'm sure will be lost, but other than that, just go back to doing what you were doing, build up the playing endurance again (it'll come back), and don't stress about it. In the meantime, listen to some great clarinetists on iTunes or whatever system you young kids are using these days (just had another birthday last week....turns out I got older AGAIN!) and get a nice good sound concept in your brain.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ruben
Date: 2016-08-13 11:06
Just one last tip: If you have any problems-and I doubt whether you will-go and see a dentist that plays a wind instrument or is familiar with dealing with reed players. I'm sure you have an excellent dentist, but the average dentist isn't aware of our particular needs. Tucson is a big enough town now to find somebody attuned to the needs of woodwind players. Good luck! The next time I come to Tucson, you can try out my magic clarinet!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: ruben
Date: 2016-08-17 19:58
An update on your the loss of your wisdom...teeth, that is? I hope all is going well for you.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Exiawolf
Date: 2016-08-18 04:21
Ruben - I actually made another thread: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=443794&t=443794
Working hard to get back into the groove but this really sucks :b
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Author: ruben
Date: 2016-08-18 13:23
Give double-lip embouchure a try; even if it's only 10 minutes a day to start with. I admit I'm very stubborn! But, I'm convinced it's a more flexible embouchure that produces better tone and intonation and makes it more easy to adjust to different mouthpieces, reeds, etc..
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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