 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetdad65
Date: 2004-06-11 19:37
My 14 y/o daughter has lost one of her front teeth. There will be a temporay crown put in in about 8-10 weeks. In the interm, she cannot play her instrument. Does anyone have any ideas on how she can overcome this? She will be attending (2) summer music camps in addition to auditioning for her high school band. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-06-11 19:49
Why can't she have the Temporary put in now? I used a Temporary for 15 years (it was actually a "Maryland Bridge" - 1 tooth which was affixed to teeth at either side). I have a Temporary Bridge in front right now as we speak & I am playing.
The "Maryland Bridge" is quite inexpensive & uses a plastic tooth, made to match the one she lost. Using specific compounds which adhere the plastic tooth on the back side (mostly) to the "neighbor teeth" the "bridge" is completed. Done properly, it has nearly the strength of a man-made bridge - to the point that I held off on permanent bridge for 15 years!
Of course, I don't know the specifics of your daughter's situation. But perhaps the Dentist doesn't know your daughter's music situation either & could cook up something that would work for her in the interim.
Best of luck.
Post Edited (2004-06-11 19:55)
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Author: clarinetdad65
Date: 2004-06-11 19:56
The tooth was fractured above the gum and the dentist wants to save the root. At this time she has a post in the root with a wire coming down onto her braces. The dentist is trying to slowly extrude the root so that he may put a post in it and affix a crown. We are trying to figure out a way that she can continue to play during this process. I tried using a mouth guard, but it was too bulky.
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Author: marcia
Date: 2004-06-12 04:36
Has she actually tried to play? I have very crooked front teeth to the point where only one tooth actaully makes contact with the mouthpiece. It is not ideal but I have done quite well with this for the last 20 something years. (After many years of dismissing the idea, I will soon be getting braces to straighten them.) I would suggest talking with the dentist to see if there would be any harm in doing this. It would not be ideal, but for a few weeks I think it would be worth the try.
Marcia
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2004-06-12 14:25
Like Marcia, I too have crooked teeth and only one of my top teeth contacts the mouthpiece. If the mouthpiece is moved to one side it works better for me.
Some good players and Kenny G play this way (recent thread).
Of course it would be a change, and your daughter may not play as well at first, but at least she would still be practicing, and not miss band camp and auditions.
John
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Author: Karel
Date: 2004-06-12 14:36
What might help is a "mouthguard" made from the heat mouldable plastic physiotherapists use for making splints. It can be rolled out quite thin and moulded to form a guard over the front teeth to mask the gap. I have used this to protect my upper lip when I was starting out to use "double lip embouchure" and had no difficulty making this myself at home.
Karel.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-06-12 14:43
I love playing the clarinet (and never turn down a gig), but if I had to choose between saving a front tooth or practicing for an upcoming audition, I would definately choose the irreplacealble tooth. During the few weeks of "layoff", it would be a good time to explore other musical options such as learning a few chord progressions on a piano (harmonic theory) or learning about some new computor musical softwear. Once the tooth is saved (and hopefully fixed), her clarinet skills will quickly return. Good luck.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-06-13 16:05
So, I assume that when the remains of the tooth is extruded adequately the dentist will do a root canal and insert a permanent post? Having had extensive dental work done by several dentists/periodontists I am aware that dentists have different opinions just as clarinetists do. I wonder if you are/have considered getting another professional opinion on how to resolve your daughter's problem. One's front teeth(natural or artificial) are most important for clarinet playing.
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