 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: glin
Date: 2006-10-12 21:33
Hi there,
I'm being treated for TMD through by dentist, and I have to wear an orthotic over my lower teeth.(it's kind of like a retainer or a bite guard).
My dentist says I need it wear it all the time.
I tried playing the clarinet with it and it's really hard to exercise control. My tongue doesn't have the freedom to move where it wants to-the orthotic gets in the way.
Anyone out there wearing an orthotic, what's been your experience?
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-10-12 21:41
George -
I wear a night guard when I sleep, which protects my teeth, tongue and cheeks. My dentist did quite a bit of reshaping to make it comfortable.
If your dentist doesn't treat musicians, you might ask him/her for a reference to one who does. There are many possibilities, particularly making a second appliance (to use while playing) that is thinned down in the embouchure area, while supplying the necessary support at the back.
Ken Shaw
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Author: marcia
Date: 2006-10-13 05:53
I am now wearing retainers after two years of braces. I am supposed to wear them "all the time" but have been instructed to take them out to eat and to play. Could the same apply to you?
Marcia
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-10-14 09:54
I have had minor problems with a TMJ disorder for many years, which has now escalated to major problems. I suggest you learn as much as you can about the problem and the possible solutions, as the standard treatment is at best only masking symptoms, and often provoking further damage.
What started as a minor annoyance of jaw cracking and somewhat limited movement has now created sufficient inflammation in the jaw area that my inner ears are affected. I now have problems with pressure in the ears, mild (usually) tinnitus, and some low-frequency hearing loss. Of course, this does not happen to everyone with TMJ disorders, but it is a possibility, so take this matter seriously.
I tried a night guard several years ago that my dentist reccommended, but found that the teeth grinding and jaw clenching at night only got worse becaue of this large uncomfortable foreign object in my mouth. Dentists like them because they do protect the tooth enamel, but they don't address the underlying issue of unusual muscular activity. Here is a website that summarises the common dental appliances, and their ill effects:
http://www.is.wayne.edu/mnissani/bruxnet/advice.htm
There is a new school of neuromuscular dentistry, which treats the issue as more than a tooth problem. They use high tech imaging methods to analyse the muscular activity of the jaw muscles and related facial muscles, and use that as a basis to decide on what dental work is (or isn't) necessary to find the optimal placement for the jaw. There are now clinics all across North America using this technology, although I haven't yet found anyone in France. Here is the wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromuscular_dentistry
and the main training school, with links to all their clinics:
http://www.leadingdentist.com/
While treating TMJ disorders as a multifactorial issue is a step forward, I think that, at least for me, it still does not really get to the heart of the matter. So I have recently begun studying the Alexander Technique, which teaches us to reconnect with our proprioceptive senses (sensation of our body position and activity), in order to let go of ingrained bad habits, such as slouching, and using unecessary tension in all our activities. I hope this will help me to 'unlearn' the habits of grinding my teeth, clenching my jaw, chewing my lip, etc. Alexander technique can benefit all aspects of music-making, including hand positioning, breathing, performing, and non-musical aspects of our lives too. I have only had a few lessons so far, but I feel I am on the right track, and I highly reccommend it to all, TMD or not.
As with all medical problems, we need to really look for the root of the problem, not get lured into quick-fix symptom-masking.
There is an excellent article describing how TMJ disorders can lead to tinnitus, but the link seems to be broken. If anyone is interested, I can send them a copy of the pdf file, just message me with your email address.
Joanne
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