 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nakata
Date: 1999-09-21 08:49
Does any one know the relationship between
one's dental configuration and mouthpiece
I have teeth shift to my left hand side
instead of symmetric, what kind of changes
needed to be made in my mouthpiece.
if I can go to a dentist and get a mold of my
teeth, is there any mouthpiece maker out there
can make a custom mouthpiece based on my mold?
thanks!
Nakata
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-09-21 12:11
Dr. Ron B. Odrich, D.D.S., writes the "Claridontology" column in "The Clarinet" magazine and may be able to help you in discovering some options. His email is: parkaveperio@earthlink.net .
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Author: SeAn
Date: 1999-09-21 12:17
I do not know if any maker makes mouthpiece according to teeth mold.
However, I do encounter problem due to my Jaggered and sharp teeth configuration. I tend to leave dents on the mouthpiece on the top and left side. mouthpiece patches helps on the top, but not the side as it does not cover the entire width.(sometimes I shift the patch to the left to protect the mouthpiece)
Does anyone encounter similar problem??
SeAn
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 1999-09-21 15:00
My teeth are also quite crooked. What seems to happen with players like us is that the mouthpiece doesn't end up quite centered. This is ok, and I haven't encountered anyone who needed a special mouthpiece as a result.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 1999-09-21 17:54
Nakata wrote:
-------------------------------
Does any one know the relationship between
one's dental configuration and mouthpiece
I have teeth shift to my left hand side
instead of symmetric, what kind of changes
needed to be made in my mouthpiece.
if I can go to a dentist and get a mold of my
teeth, is there any mouthpiece maker out there
can make a custom mouthpiece based on my mold?
thanks!
Nakata
Nakata -
I have a front tooth that is out of line, which I used to worry about. I even got a dentist to make a plastic cover to fit over it. However, I couldn't accommodate to the change that made in my embouchure, and playing double lip seemed to put enough lip tissue between my teeth and the mouthpiece and reed that the unevenness didn't matter.
Some very fine players have made adjustments to uneven teeth. Steve Girko, who's as good as they get, has lower front teeth that are on a slant. He adjusts by turning his mouthpiece about 15 degrees to the side, where he plays beautifully. Bernard Portnoy, who was principal in Philadelphia, has a receding chin, which he compensates for by holding the instrument absolutely vertical.
The mouthpiece maker Jim Pyne wrote a long piece on the Klarinet board a few months ago in which he talked about asymmetrical facings and how he adapted his mouthpieces to the anatomy and preferences of each individual purchaser. It's interesting reading (see http://www.sneezy.org/Databases/Logs/1999/02/000804.txt). Unfortunately, it was also part of a flame war. Read it for the information, and ignore the nasty comments.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-09-21 17:54
I personally don't know of anyone with textbook straight teeth with absolutely no overbite, underbite, etc. Statistically, this kind of perfection just doesn't happen too often.
Most folks learn to work around typical problems like this. However, if your problem is severe, you might want to seek the advice of a professional orthdontic specialist.
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Author: Todd
Date: 1999-09-24 03:35
One item to keep in mind if you seek advice and treatment by an orthodontist, is that if you require full banding (braces) to correct your malalignment of you teeth, the archwires will need to be adjusted and tightened from time to time. This will mean your teeth will ache as they move. Your teeth will hurt for about 2-3 days, during which time, you will be very uncomfortable playing your clarinet. Also, your embouchure will need to adjust to having more bulk in your mouth while you wear your braces. After the braces are removed, you would again need to adjust to wearing retainers. This is not to discourage you from considering orthodontics, but just a "heads up" as to what might happen along the way. I'm speaking from personal experience and as a dentist.
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