 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2002-09-23 18:29
Hello,
whenever I play my clarinet it seems that my jaw is clicking. I don't know how else to describe it. It doesn't hurt or anything, just i'm one of thoes people that question why. lol. I talked to my teacher and he said that it's probably nothing, he doesn't know why.Does anyone have any thoughts what this could be ? lol. I'm at music school, so I play alot.. help !
Laur
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Author: Steve B.
Date: 2002-09-23 20:45
Talk to a doctor or dentist. You may have TMJ which stands for
Temporomandibular Joint. It is caused by a mis-alignment of the jawbone. It is very common, and not serious but can cause pain for some people. In most cases the only symptom is a 'clicking' of the jaw.
Good luck,
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-23 23:35
Steve B. has it cold. The only thing he left out is that the cure is sometimes worse than the disease, as the classic way to "fix" TMJ is by fracturing the lower jaw (mandible) and resetting it at a slightly altered angle to the upper jaw (maxilla). And we hope you like milkshakes. If it doesn't hurt or produce some other ill effect, you likely should not worry about it. This is not medical advice, as I have no professional qualifications in the field of medicine or dentistry (or a lot of others, for that matter). Ask your dentist at your next visit (or your maxillofacial surgeon, if you frequent such offices) for information that applies to your specific situation.
Regards,
John
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2002-09-24 01:13
WWHAT ? Fracturing the lower jaw ? Milkshakes ? aaahh ! I was just hoping my jaw was clicking be because I'm practicing too much, or because i'm practicing wrong or something... Something to that effect. Do you all honestly think it could be TMJ ? What effect would that have on playing clarinet ?
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Author: JackOrion
Date: 2002-09-24 01:16
I have it. I discribe it as a poping though. My brother also has it. We both had braces and TMJ is often a side effect. Most of the time my jaw only pops in the morning though. Hasn't happend playing clarinet. Lets see, I also drink to much and occasionaly my elbows swing backwards, my left eyelid is subject to spontanious spasms, My knees crack when I squat, twice a year I break out in a rash, I have a fungus under my toenails that will not go away, I can't sleep for more then three hours at a time, my right nostril is always clogged, my.................and I'm only 32!!
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Author: Karel
Date: 2002-09-24 07:46
May I say that we all have a "temporo-mandibular joint"; we would not be able to chew without one. It may be impaired and cause problems, but I myself would be reluctant to have my jaw refashioned unless I had a lot of PAIN associated with it.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-24 15:39
Karel is right that we all have a TMJ. In fact, we have two of them. Calling the difficulty "TMJ" falls into the same area as people who say, "I've got carpal tunnel," when they really mean they have carpal tunnel syndrome. Having two carpal tunnels is quite the usual thing.
Laurie (don't like milkshakes, eh?): If it isn't bothering you, don't worry about it. I still suggest mentioning it to your dentist so you can have better information on what it means to you. I suspect (but won't guarantee, of course) that you'll get similar information to what you got here. And as to how this may affect your Clarinet playing, you'll have to determine that for yourself.
Regards,
John
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-09-24 15:58
I suppose one of those tongue studs would cause that too
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2002-09-24 20:46
Laurie --
Since you state that your jaw clicks but does not hurt, may we assume that your concern is the noise associated with the condition? The clicking probably sounds much louder to you than to other people, due to the proximity of the TM joint(s) to the inner ear(s).
My jaw clicked when I was a small child, and it is still clicking now that I am in my 60s.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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Author: Melanie
Date: 2002-09-25 02:23
I have had problems with my TMJ. If it doesn't hurt, be thankful. It can be very painful. I would just advise you to not try and pop it, and to stop if pain begins. I ignored the first signs of pain, and was out for a month and a half. Good luck!
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2002-09-25 14:10
i have quite a severe case of TMJ dysfunction - or however you want to describe it ... started off with clicking and no pain. sometimes when i was holding a long note my jaw would shift midway thru - i think going back into proper position and of course that put a bump in the sustained note so that it was not sustained. later, that shifting stopped but then it started popping and not just clicking and i experienced increasing pain. i finally went to a special dentist and had a device made that fits over my bottom teeth. it looks like the invisalign braces. i have to wear it any time im not eating or playing clarinet. it keeps the jaw in proper postion and and gives support to help with the pain. i am not pain free and it still pops quite severely, but it is much better. there are options besides surgery. infact i was quickly scared away from that after i a clarniet player told me that she had the surgery and lost sensation in her lip and can longer play -Yikes! i would suggest to just get it checked out and watch for signs of it getting worse or take preventitive measures so it doesnt get worse.
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Author: J
Date: 2002-09-27 02:09
I have never had a clicking jaw, but I have had popping ankles. I honestly don't know if this will help you but I am trying. I know that after my ankle started popping it weakened it. Later on I eventually broke my ankle. I recomend you go to your doctor just to make sure nothing is wrong.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-09-27 02:43
For goodness sake ... see a medical professional.
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2002-09-27 05:12
Hi, I sometimes post here in my other guise, a dentist. I am, in fact, a pediatric dentist so I don't have to deal with the problems mentioned here too much (thank goodness). I just want to clear up some silliness...
1) TMJ is a common name placed on a large milieu of problems by the lay public. TMJ really is an acronym for tempero-mandibular joint. Normal folks have two of these. The TMJ is a complex assembly of bone (lower jaw and skull) cartilage, connective tissue, synovial fluid, synovial lining, muscle and fascia.
2) Problems with the dysfunction of the TMJ apparatus can lead to many different symptoms (a symptom is something that a patient experiences, i.e. pain, clicking, grinding, throbbing etc.). When pain or limitation of movement occurs the collected condition is often termed tempero-mandibular pain dysfunction (TMD).
3) TMD occurs most often in middle aged females, other factors which are frequent precursors of problems are occlusal disharmonies (bite problems), joint clicking or other noises, joint grinding, jaws locking open or closed (trismus). When your jaw clicks you are more likely to develop other problems, but not certain to do so. If you play with your jaw by making it click repeatedly for long periods of time you can worsen your condition. The clicking is the articular disc (a part of the inner workings of the jaw joint) popping out of position upon wide jaw opening, or sometimes when biting down on an object like a clarinet mouthpiece.
4) Treatment does not usually mean "fracturing the lower jaw (mandible) and resetting it at a slightly altered angle to the upper jaw (maxilla)". That is one treatment I haven't ever heard related to TMD treatment. If you were getting that advice I would respectfully suggest finding a second opinion.
5) There are surgical treatments of internal joint derangements, which are done by surgeons competent to treat TMD problems. These are not often first, second, or third options. Dentists competent to treat TMD abound and in most cases treatment can be as simple as wearing a splint (yes sort of like a small athletic mouth guard) for periods of time. Sometimes all that is needed is to do some judicious adjustments (grinding little spots) on some teeth. Other times just lessening the amount of psychological stress in your life can do it.
6) Clicking is a common symptom which does not always need to be addressed. If you are concerned about it or if other problems are developing then you should ask your dentist for a referral to someone with expertise with the problem.
7) I have heard of Chiropractors and other non-medical types treating this condition. With my background and experience I feel that the best results I have seen have been when I refer patients to traditional medical and dental practitioners with training and experience in TMD treatment.
8) Oh, yes... in regards to the TMJ "we would not be able to chew without one" is in fact not true. It is indeed possible to chew even if you have had to have the condyles (upper end) removed from your lower jaw. In a properly functioning TMJ there is not a lot of compressive force placed on the disc. This is trivia, which really is not important to the discussion.
What I am hearing is that some of you have clicking and popping without other problems. Certainly let your dentist know. If you are having symptoms then ask your dentist for an evaluation of the problem. If all you have going on is a little noise in the joint, don't stress it out by overworking it just to hear the popping all day long, and also don't worry about it. It usually is not significant and if you get all worked up about the noise (and terrified that something like "fracturing your jaw" is needed) the psychological stress can make it worse. Finally, if playing the clarinet is causing the popping then experiment with different embochures or positions, maybe a different mouthpiece to see if anything helps.
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2002-09-27 12:51
I am seeing my doctor concering this, when I go home for Columbus Day. I just wanted a heads up before going. It doesn't hurt; just is interfering with my playing.It just seems like a roadblock - I'm working soo hard ( freshman @ The Crane School) and i hatee having to stop playing. Thanks everyone for their suggestions, I really appreciate it
:)
Laurie
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Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2002-09-27 18:59
I just had an "acute atack" of TMJ this summer. It started as clicking then I could not open my mouth wide enough to eat a sandwich. I ate soup everyday. I play sax professionaly and i was very worried about my future as a sax player. The doctors gave me medication which dod NOTHING! I then went to a dentiist who gave me a mouth guard. This guard keeps the joints seperated so that there is no pressure. Eventually the swelling subsided 3 months later. I can play again but I will always have tp wear this guard at night.
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