 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: MondeLuna
Date: 2010-07-27 19:02
Hello Everyone! I had my wisdom teeth removed last Tuesday. I had 4 wisdom teeth and the bottom teeth were impacted. I am 27 years old. I was under general anesthesia and prescribed penicillin, vicodin, and Ibuprofen. (don't know if that matters) Anyway my oral surgeon told me that I couldn't play the clarinet until the holes in my mouth where gone. Is this true? I have read most of the wisdom teeth threads on the bboard and most people start playing after a week.
I am hoping I don't have to wait that long. I didn't even have holes in my mouth until the stitches started coming out yesterday. Do any of you have any hints on how to heal faster? I am starting to have withdrawals for my clarinet. =) Thanks in advance for your advice!
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-07-27 19:12
"gone" can take a while indeed. But you should wait till the wound has healed and you're off your medication, which equals to roughly a week or two. You can't pull at the grass in order to make it grow faster...
In the meantime, you can still practice your rhythm and sightseeing skills by clapping and singing your sheet music...or grab your recorder, it's comparatively easy with your sore snout. :-)
--
Ben
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-07-27 19:31
I've never had my wisdom teeth removed but I've had many students that have. Most of them began some playing in a week or two and most were back to their normal schedule in three weeks or less. I'd suggest as soon as the pain subsides that you try playing a little at a time as see how it goes. I guess the holes may make your tone fuller, joking of course , but who knows. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2010-07-27 20:04
Listen to your doctor, in general. I had all four out (impacted) when I was 18. The surgery was about 3 weeks before I was heading off to college (as a clarinet major). I believe I waited about 2 weeks to play on the advice of my surgeon. I don't remember how long the "holes" took to heal completely.
IMO, a week is a little short, depending on your mouth...
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Author: kimber
Date: 2010-07-27 20:30
My husband had three wisdom teeth pulled about 2 weeks ago now...I remember him telling me that he would be restricted from playing for about 3-4 weeks if he played a normal wind instrument, but 4-6 weeks for a brass mouthpiece instrument. He doesn't play either, but I found it interesting. I imagine the increased intraoral pressures are more likely to pop the clotting and affect healing.
I would think you could practice by blowing gently through the mouthpiece (no reed) for fingering and maybe sightreading practice.
Post Edited (2010-07-27 20:31)
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Author: DougR
Date: 2010-07-27 22:33
Well, I'd say if you have questions about this, call your dentist. It shouldn't be a tall order for him to explain this better than it apparently was explained to you originally.
Second, I had all four wisdom teeth out about three months ago, and don't recall any admonitions about "holes" other than not trying to chew with teeth that were no longer there, to ensure that the holes would heal. Also, there's something called "Drysocket" that you apparently get if the healing scab is dislodged somehow, e.g. by trying to chew your meat loaf with teeth that are no longer there.
But really, I didn't feel like playing much of anything for a couple of days, and when I did, I focused on flute, and had no problems.
But, when in doubt, consult your professional!!!
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Author: pewd
Date: 2010-07-28 00:55
i wonder how many dental surgeons have actual data to support the 'dont play a musical instrument for x days' speech they give their patients? i suspect its just a general 'dont play for 2-3 weeks' comment without any data to support / refute how long one should lay off the horn.
has anyone actually studied clarinet students with wisdom teeth surgery? compare complication rates for patients laying out for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks to see if there is a difference?
most of my students are playing again within 5-7 days. AFAIK, out of dozens, only one had complications (dry socket in one case).
however, you should not take medical advice from a chat room - consult your oral surgeon.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Gary Foss
Date: 2010-07-28 06:05
While I will agree that You shouldn't take advice from chat rooms, allow Me to share My experience with wisdom teeth. I had My bottom two pulled during college with both being impacted. As I had auditions for solo opportunities and a heavy performance schedule, I rushed right back to the horn and had several dry socket episodes, even several weeks later. Even to this day(25 years later or so) the gums haven't returned to 100%. I had the top ones pulled a couple of years after the lowers by a dentist( the lowers were done by an oral surgeon) and those gave Me no trouble at all. My experience tells Me that You should take as much time as necessary to heal up before playing, or else Your tongue will spend a lot of time digging food out from the gaps. Music can entail enough heartbreak without physically damaging Yourself.
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Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2010-07-28 13:39
Last year I had a broken wisdom tooth extracted. I managed to get my dentist to schedule me on a Friday afternoon right after a matinee. I had no shows scheduled until the following Tuesday evening, so I had an emergency sub on standby. I was fine to do the gig - Reed 4 on West Side Story.
Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling
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Author: William
Date: 2010-07-28 15:36
It is best to listen to your dentist's advice. However, many years ago, a local sax/clarinet player had four wisdom teeth extracted and went out to play a jazz gig the very same evening. He is still alive and playing well :>)
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Author: DougR
Date: 2010-07-28 16:22
If I were you, MondeLuna, I'd want to know exactly what the dentist meant by no playing "until the holes were gone." How are you supposed to know when that is? Did your dentist tell you clearly & specifically? If not, I'd get clarification.
When I went in for my consultation, I told the oral surgeon I'd heard stories about people losing facial nerve function after such surgery, and that as a musician it was essential to me to maintain feeling and function in my jaw. He shot a panoramic x-ray of my jaw and carefully pointed out cranial nerve V (which is responsible for sensory and motor function in the jaw), its proximity (or rather distance) from the site of the surgery, and explained that I was not at risk for any facial nerve damage at all. I doubt he would have done any of this had I not insisted on keeping my motor and sensation functions, and you can bet cranial nerve V was in his thoughts as he did the work.
Really, I'd check with your dentist.
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Author: JEG ★2017
Date: 2010-07-30 00:08
FWIW - I had my lowers removed in 1975. They were severly impacted; the surgeon had to go through the bone, etc. If I remember correctly the oral surgeon told me to wait a week, so I did. When I tried to play it hurt like hell, so I waited another week. After that I was able to play with a minimum of discomfort.
Definitely listen to your oral surgeon, but also pay attention to how everything feels. If it hurts, your body is trying to tell you something.
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Author: MondeLuna
Date: 2010-07-30 05:02
Thank you all for your advice. While I want to trust my oral surgeon I feel he is being unreasonable. Since the holes apparently don't feel for around a month I feel like that is WAY to long to be off my horn. 2 weeks I can handle but 1 month I just don't know. =o) Maybe 2 1/2 weeks but I really don't have much more time than that.
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2010-08-22 20:38
My oldest son (17 years old) just had his wisdom teeth removed. His doctor said that, barring any unforeseen complications, he could begin playing again on the fifth day - in fact, he coud resume all of his activities after the fifth day.
He's done great - all 4 were impacted, he was on oxycodone and ibuprofin for two days, amoxicillin for four days, and when he started to play again, he had no problems, except for a minor amount of soreness the first couple of days, so he didn't play for too long.
Now, two weeks later, he's 100%.
He even went scuba diving on the sixth day.
Post Edited (2010-08-22 20:41)
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-08-23 16:17
I was playing the next day for just a few minutes. Then as the swelling went down I increased the practice time. Took about a month to allow for 4 or 5 hours of practice. The dentist never gave me any info regarding when to start playing. I simply stopped playing when it hurt.
For about 8 months or so my sound kind of sucked, so don't get frustrated, it will come back, perhaps even better. I was actually toying with giving up music and becoming a history major in college.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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