 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Alphie
Date: 2004-06-06 12:01
I put this thread on the Klarinet list and I'll put it here as well.
At the moment I’m fighting a battle with the National Health Insurance Department in Sweden and I want some inputs. My problem is that I recently had to pull a tooth, #6 from the middle at the bottom left side. I think it's the third molar. This was due to an accident caused by my ex-dentist when performing a root-filling. In Sweden, a high tax country, an accident like this was until recently covered by the national health insurance together with the dentists own insurance.
Until recently there were two different treatments I could choose between: a conventional bridge or a titanium implant. I want an implant for various
reasons: An implant only replaces the missing tooth without doing any damage to the surrounding teeth. Minimum changes in the cavity. When mounting a bridge you have to reshape the surrounding teeth to fit the bridge. The damage is permanent and if I’m not happy with the result there is no way back to what it was before. Some major changes in the cavity.
Recently they changed the recommendations about implants behind the 5th tooth. Now they won’t pay for this slightly more expensive treatment even if the dentist’s insurance is paying 90% of the operation. I’ve been claiming that I’m a clarinettist in a major philharmonic orchestra and that I can’t risk any major changes in my cavity because it will put my future as a musician at risk but it makes no difference. The rules are the same for all.
In my country there are no insurance companies that offer private tooth insurances. The rule has always been that the dentist’s insurance together with the NHI should cover everything without any problems. Now, the only possibility to get an implant behind the 5th tooth is to pay everything out of your own pocket and I don’t think that’s fair considering that Sweden is the country with the highest taxes in the world. But when you want something that’s not “average” they let you down.
The new recommendations haven’t been tried in court yet so my case will be the first. What I want is that the recommendations should be practised more flexible, in fact as they actually are formulated. If someone claims good reasons like professional reasons they should make an exception. It’s important that I’ll win this case since it will become pilot case. As it is now it’s already a pilot case to my disadvantage as long as I don’t bring it to court. So I have everything to win.
What I’m asking from you fellow clarinettists is why you would prefer an implant instead of a bridge yourself? Every input is valuable since I need all ammunition I can get. If there are any dentists on this BB who also play the clarinet you’re especially welcome to take part of the discussion.
Just don’t get stuck in a discussion about taxes. I happen to know every detail about those discussions beforehand.
Alphie
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2004-06-06 13:43
I'm in the process of having an implant done on my upper left 6th, and I do think it's a better option than having a bridge, so that surrounding teeth aren't damaged - but the NHS here in England don't pay for it (and it costs an absolute FORTUNE - I thought the dentist was joking at first - luckily I can pay in instalments!!).
At the moment my titanium bit is - hopefully - bonding with the bone. I've got to go back to the dentist at the end of this month to have the abutment joined on, and then it's got to be left for several months again before a tooth can be made to fit over it.
A word of warning - after you have the bone drilled into, to take the titanium rod, you might get some bruising to your face, so don't arrange any important public appearances for a week or two after! Two days after my procedure I had an enormous black bruise on that side - it looked as if I'd been beaten up! I spent the whole time explaining to people - it was awfully embarrassing! The dentist did say that it was usually worse for women, but I didn't think it'd be that bad...............![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif)
Joanna Brown
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-06-06 14:37
I also have a several-tooth implant, which has been VERY successful, upper left molar area. I believe it has contributed to my improved playing of the bass cl, [large mp], it certainly helps my eating [steaks etc] and avoids earlier cheek-chewing, which was aggravating. I dont recall what my total cost was, two skillful dentists, multiple visits, quite a few thousand $'s. I believe a portion was paid by our Medicare, and most of the balance was paid [ultimately] by dental insurance via a US state's group policy [employment], where claims were refiled several times by the ?peridontist's? [am unsure of terms] offices. I hope this and other's experience and "struggle" may help you, Alphie, Best Wishes, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alphie
Date: 2004-06-06 18:19
Joanna and Don? Was it because of clarinetistic reasons that you choose the more expensive implant instead of a bridge? How did the discussion go with yourselves before you made the decision?
Alphie
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2004-06-06 18:39
For me it wasn't particularly for clarinetistic reasons, but I didn't like the idea of pefectly good teeth being damaged, and also the dentist did say that he thought the tooth behind the missing tooth didn't have very deep roots and so might not support a bridge adequately - so I might have ended up with no bridge, damaged teeth, and then had to have an implant anyway! ![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif)
I'm not sure that a bridge would necessarily affect your sound if it is over back teeth, but on another forum I belong to I think I read a post a while ago from someone who had had to have bridgework at the front of his mouth and subsequently couldn't get the high notes - something to do with the normal spaces which would be between the teeth being blocked up!
Joanna Brown
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2004-06-06 21:04
I have four permanent bridges and they have no effect on clarinet playing or any other problems. Two of them were installed ~35 years ago.
Hans
Post Edited (2004-06-06 21:25)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: msroboto
Date: 2004-06-06 21:05
I have a four tooth bridge in the back of my mouth and I don't really find it to be a problem. Mine is a permanant bridge so it is not removable.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-06-07 00:51
Alphie - I'm trying to get my thots together on my "dental insurance" struggle. Will EM you shortly re: my procedure. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-06-07 01:28
All my teeth were crowned about 8 years ago, because they were very worn and cracking up.
Personally, I don't see how that could affect clarinet playing, unless the player was totally without verasatility. It certainly did not affect me, nor in flute playing, where I consider the front teeth to have a greater effect on embouchure, even though all my teeth finished up signnificantly longer than what I was used to.
It is part of human nature.... If we imagine problems, then we find them; if we don't, then we don't.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2004-06-07 13:38
Although some dentists don't recommend it you can have a removable "bridge" installed. It's simply a false tooth with clips. A permanent bridge requires grinding down the two adjacent good teeth which, in my opinion, is not a great idea. The implant makes sense, however, I doubt that any dentist or perio will guarantee it will "take".
If it were my mouth I'd go with the removable bridge.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-06-07 13:58
Maybe you can have a silverplated tooth put in there for a better tone . . .
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-06-07 14:24
Re: BobD, Alexi et al, I had no choice, wisdom tooth gone, poor teeth from the start, implant was only option. My Mother had a removable bridge, had only mild complaints as I recall. I'm a mediocre semi-pro, not a PRO, so had no employment considerations, I believe that the choice is primarily economic, believe either to be satisfactory. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-06-07 18:07
sfalexi wrote:
>Maybe you can have a silverplated tooth put in there for a better tone . . .
Heh, Great idea! ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif) Maybe that would increase resonance!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alphie
Date: 2004-06-08 23:32
I just got in touch with Ron Odrich who's a welknown jazz clarinetist as well as a celebrated odontologist. He has been working with implants for 20 years together with a hectic schadual as a musician. I guess I couldn't find a better person to argue for my case which he kindly promised to do. Isn't this my lucky day. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
Alphie
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
