 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: MarkW61
Date: 2026-05-30 13:00
Hi,
Hopefully I can find someone on the forum who has had the misfortune to have had periodontal treatment that involves root scraping of the lower teeth under the gum line.
The hygienist at my dentist alerted me to gum disease which I wasn't aware of that had affected my lower four front teeth, since this examination one of my teeth is slightly loose. I was referred to a specialist who has advised root scraping to remove the affected area of infection but has told me I have bone wastage of the jaw and even after treatment these teeth could be potentially loose.
At best I will be unable to play for at least 3 months and if they are loose it could mean that I have to stop playing. I'm devastated, I have been able to retain my place in the local symphony orchestra for the last 20 years(this is a good orchestra that sells out a 300 hundred seat venue every concert) and the last thing I want to do is end it all.
Has anyone been in a similar position and did they find any way of continuing to play?
Mark
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Author: ruben
Date: 2026-05-30 14:03
Mark: Very recently, my bridge replacing my four upper front teeth broke. I thought it was just a matter of replacing it, but I went to three different dentists who all told me that the the two front teet holding up my bridge were shot and had to be replaced by implants; four implants for the modest cost of 10 000 euros. A bassoonist colleague had this done and had to sop playing after that. When he put pressure on the reed and blew; he had unbearable pain in his sinuses. To make a long story short, I opted for a partial plate: a four-tooth denture. I wasn't at all sure this would allow me to go on playing and was profoundly depressed. So, two front teeth were extracted, I had a temporary partial plate put in on the same day and got a more refined permanent one a month later. I went back to playing after a week! -even with the temporary partial plate. This hasn't affected my playing at all, though it took a little getting used to. Don't get discouraged. Everything will be alright! If you want more information, get in touch with me at my email address. I sympathize profoundly, all the more so as I went through the same emotional and physical trial a short four months ago. Best wishes. Ruben
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: ruben
Date: 2026-05-30 14:17
PS: The son of my pharmacist specializes in saving teeth that all other dentists have given up on. But my roots were too infected and there was nothing to be done but pull the teeth out and scrape. at their roots. Anyway, I have survived and my playing has survived.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2026-05-30 17:14
Mark,
I just recently completed treatment of a hole that was made between my oral cavity and my sinus cavity when I had a wisdom tooth extracted. I could not play at all and like you, pretty bummed out about not ever playing again. While this is not quite the same problem as yours, an oral surgeon put a skin flap over the socket with the hole. The procedure took about 25 minutes under a local anesthetic. The surgeon had to clean up the jawbone as well.
It took just about 3 weeks, and I am practicing again getting ready for another season with the Ann Arbor Concert Band (A2CB). Our conductor and the principal clarinet kept a "chair warm" for my return. Everyone was very supportive and I am looking forward to beginning my 76th year of playing woodwinds.
I knew that at my age I was approaching my "sell by date" but never thought it would be because of a tooth.
Hang in there, Mark.
Hank
PS I was at a stage where I could drink something and blow it out my nose. They call it an oroantral sinus connection.
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Author: MarkW61
Date: 2026-05-30 17:14
Thank you for sharing this Ruben, and the words of encouragement, I am feeling very distressed by the prospect of having the treatment done.
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Author: MarkW61
Date: 2026-05-30 17:19
Thank you Hank, you are doing well to be playing at 76, I can't see me making that age regardless of my current situation.
It was kind of the conductor to keep you chair warm and I am hoping that mine will do the same.
Mark
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2026-05-30 18:38
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the nice comments. May I humbly make a quick correction in your computations. This is my 76th year playing after starting at age 12 so 88 is my age. Time flies. but I can still keep up with the kids who are in their 60s.
I must admit though that my vision, hearing, mobility, and breath control have taken a few hits. But I guess that's why there are iPads. hearing aids, and canes.
Hank
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Author: ruben
Date: 2026-05-30 18:55
Dear Hank, Your conductor obviously values you and your playing! -and probably, rightly so.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: MarkW61
Date: 2026-05-30 20:10
Hank, that is truly a credit to your playing and lungs! To play at the current level of the orchestra I play in I had given myself until 70(5 years to go) before quitting but you are obviously a better player than me.
Mark
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2026-05-31 02:06
Ruben and Mark,
Thanks for the good words; I am humbled. Being able to play music and also share it with others has been great. But I am a tenacious person, practice regularly, and have a very supportive wife (who I met while playing a New Year's Eve gig at a local country club and she was a waitress). That made it easier.
Onward!
Hank
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Author: kurth83
Date: 2026-05-31 03:44
I've known someone who went through this recently. The bone wastage in his case was from too much mouthpiece pressure (trumpet player). He tried implants and bridges. All eventually failed, because they couldn't take the pressure he needed.
Clarinet is different I think in that the pressure needed is much less (I do play both so I can speak to this), especially on the lower lip (for single lip embouchures, and for double lip it would be very little pressure on either set of teeth.
So the options that failed for him would likely work for you. But he is 20 years younger, so best to ask what your options are.
I know they aren't cheap though. And it is months of recovery. But better than a total loss.
I for one am careful to play with as little pressure as possible on trumpet now, but I have already started to notice some motion in my top two front teeth (the same teeth my colleague lost), which has me worried at age 66.
Aging classical trumpet player learning clarinet as a second.
Post Edited (2026-05-31 03:45)
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