 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Gobboboy
Date: 2006-05-02 16:35
Does anyone have any experience or knowlege of the 'side effects' of having an implant?
I am considering having one as I have a missing tooth (3rd one to the right of my front tooth, (upper side)) and it causes me to leak air quite a lot and makes quite a bit of noise. I can play ok, but I feel that if the gap were filled I would have a much better seal around the mouthpiece.
I have heard a few horror stories of people losing feeling in the area (don't quote me but I had heard Gervase de Peyer had problems like this...not sure if that's true) and never getting it back.
The procerdure involves drilling a hole up through the bone for about 3/4 of an inch and inserting a small steel rod that a fake tooth can be screwed on to.
It's making me squirm thinking about it!!
any advice would be very helpful
G
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-02 16:55
I smashed both my top front teeth when I was 12, since then I've had the worst of the broken one built up and a veneer on the front as well as root canal surgery as the nerve was exposed, and the other one had the remainder of the broken portion turned into a core and a crown fitted - the nerve is still intact on this one, and have had no trouble with them since the permanent crown was fitted.
A colleague had bridgework done to his front teeth from a young age, and he plays soprano and tenor sax with no trouble - but I don't know anyone that's had implants - I don't think they'll cause any trouble.
Only when I had my wisdom teeth removed (about 10 years ago) I was told it could cause nerve damage and loss of feeling in my face, but I never suffered any ill effects at all - and I think having my (impacted) wisdom teeth removed was the best thing I did as I used to ache all down the sides of my face during gigs, as well as headaches which have all gone since then.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2006-05-02 19:09
Implant has no side effects as far as I know.
Its side effects is in a different place.Implant needs very much time to complete.
I lost one of my front teeth on my upper jaw and could not play flute or clarinet. I decided to take an implant surgery. As my lost tooth lost itw own base bone, I had a surgery to remove my chin bone to its base. Two weeks was necessary for it.After that the doctor required 3 months the bone adheres to the base bone.
Then the real implant was started.
First, a titunium female base is implanted. It was like a screw. After that, to ascertain its adherence to the base teeth bone, I had to wait for a while. In my case, 3 months.
Next, the teeth shaping. An engineer came to grasp the lost teeth shaping and its color. I was molded my upper jaw teeth raw.
Then, I was implanted a titunium husband screw onto my base bone. To stabilize its contact on the bone base in this period the upper teeth was a fake one. it took 3 months.
After that my upper teeth ceramics was mounted.
But after that my dentist(s) needed to check the conditions every 3 months in one year and every 6 months in following years.
This may be too much in foreign countries other than Japan. But this was what I experienced and am now experiencing.
Post Edited (2006-05-02 19:21)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-05-02 20:00
I have had an implant of two "back teeth", upper left, which has worked out well for me, much like Hiroshi described, a bit costly [to my insurance, tho]. I have a lower front tooth "bonded" [glued] to its neighbors, of which I'm quite careful. It causes me NO trouble, emb.-wise, for playing bass or alto cl, haven't played much sop., but see no problems. Much luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Tony Beck
Date: 2006-05-02 21:21
The procedure Hiroshi discribed is about the same here in the US. I had a similar experience to Chris, except I had 3 front teeth broken with nerves exposed (on a snow sled the day before Christmas). All three came through with roots intact (thank you Dr. Brann!). After the initial healing, I continued to play with the temporarys and later the permenent crowns (two of which are bonded together).
Ask the Dr. what the chances are for complications such as numbness. They have to tell you what might go wrong, but they often forget to mention the odds. It may happen once in 100 times, or once in 5,000. When you know that, it's easier to make an informed decision.
Also, ask about other restorative options. An implant isn't the only possibility, although it may be the best.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-05-02 21:28
I got as far as the estimate at which I backed out. First, they are supposed to take special head "shots" to determine where the roots are so they can miss them. Second, there are no guarantees. For only one tooth the cost shouldn't be any more than two new clarinets. Maybe you might want to stick some gum in there when you play clarinet.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2006-05-02 21:32
I recently had two implants put in (upper right side) and am very glad I did. I've had no problems, and found that it was easier to play with the new teeth in.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-02 21:45
I suppose the success of implants is due to the strength and health of the bone they're going into.
The worst part of my dentist work was when I had the temporary crown fitted and the remainder of the tooth turned into a stump to fit the crown onto. I went into shock as the anaesthetic didn't work - I always have trouble with anaesthetics - they never work on me so I usualy need another dose part way through the operation which means more dreaded injections in my gums and hard palate! (Yeah, very nice indeed!). Afterwards I didn't think I'd be able to play again as it was agony.
But as soon as I had th permanent crown fitted (about a week after that) it was like having a real tooth again - although my dentist only initially tacked it on temporarily to see how it fitted, it was such a good fit that he couldn't take it off again when it came to permanently glueing it on the following week! So he left it as it was.
But a few years down the line the 'temporary' glue failed, but it was easy enough for him to glue back on permanently - and has held fast since.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-05-03 00:05
I have had two done, at the back.
There is the potential for damaging a nerve during the operation, which would produce numbness forward of that tooth on that side of the mouth. A good practitioner goes to a lot of trouble to avoid this by taking appropriate Xrays to determine just where the nerve is, and avoiding it.
Occasionally an implant does not join to the bone, and this can normally be corrected by further attention, probably (?) at no additional cost. Putting high pressure on the implant before it has joined to the bone can cause this. It is for safety in this respect that you will have a few months of just the implant with no tooth on the top of it.
Occasionally there can problems with the alignment of the implant. A "stent" is constructed to guide the drill, but if there is variable density in what is being drilled, then this interferes with alignment.
Like ANY surgery, things can POSSIBLY go wrong in a variety of ways, but in most cases this does not prevent people from having the surgery. You also take a risk every time you travel on the road.
It would certainly pay to clarify the practitioner's policy if things do NOT go according to plan. What happens? Who pays? Insurance covering such eventualities may well make the difference between what is perceived as a cheap price and an expensive price from different practitioners.
Having an implant DOES have a permanent side effect.
The teeth are mounted on tough 'hairs' that link the tooth's root to the bone around it. (Hence the ripping sound that is possible when a tooth is pulled out) When we bite against something, the nerves associated with these hairs are titivated, so that we have a sensation of pressure on the tooth. An implant is attached directly to the bone, so this sensation can no longer occur.
For me, these sensations are part of the pleasure of eating, so I am glad that the rest of my teeth still experience them. My dentist says that with the alternative of a plate, the only sensation I might get would be discomfort. at least the implants give no NEGATIVE feeling.
I have no regrets with my implants.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-05-03 11:27
A very good discourse Gordon and I am glad yours has been successful. My personal situation was that at my age of 76 investing $20,000 (the estimate for the job) in 4 implants didn't add up given the "no guarantee" caution. It was sort of like the guy who had contracted an Oriental disease who finally sought out a Chinese doctor after having Western doctors advise expensive and risky surgery. The Chinese doctor said, "Ah, no surgery necessary , just reave arone and in 6 months it fall off by itself."
Bob Draznik
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Author: Gobboboy
Date: 2006-05-03 14:09
Thanks for all this information, it 's all really thorough!
But does anyone know anyone or heard of anyone who is a professional player who has had this done and suffered any loss of feeling due to damaged nerves and therefore been detrimental to their career as a musician??
I really want to get this work done, but am quite worried that it could mess me up for good - it I cant play.....what next!!!
G
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-05-03 22:22
The nerve in the tooth involved will definitely be removed, and all sensitivity in that tooth will have gone. You have to decide whether that will affect your playing. Personally I think not.... even if the tooth was a front one in contact with the mouthpiece. Our bodies are incredibly good at getting used to new situations.
The nerve running past this tooth to the other, good teeth si the one you do not want to damage. It will be located in slightly different places for different people, and its proximity to the work being done will be different for different people.
So the risks are highly individual, and depend on which teeth are involved. Only your practitioner, having due regard for YOUR PARTICULAR case, can give you a risk assessment. The experience of other people is really rather irrelevant, unless you want to unnecessarily scare yourself.
If you want to lessen your risk, get the job done by a practitioner who is a specialist in this area - a fixed periodontist - and thoroughly check his reputation. ANY operation that is near nerves, or especially when selected nerve removal is involved, has some risk of nerve damage. You minimise that risk by using a practitioner who has a lot of successful experience in working in the particular area. Even the necessary anaesthetic runs SOME risk, as all anaesthetics do.
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2006-05-03 23:05
An oboe-playing friend of mine has 4 implants. She says that once completed, she feels 'completely normal'.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2006-05-04 12:14
Better with, than without.
Lost teeth nearly ruined Chet Baker.
Bone necrosis from this type of dental surgery is vanishingly rare.
Smokers and those taking steroids (prescribed or otherwise) may have a larger incidence of complications, but most of my hockey playing buddies that came up in the days before a facemask have good results, years out.
Don't be surprised if you're sore afterwards, it is surgery...
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-04 12:32
Is there a dentist in the house?
Reason why I ask is that I do have some enamel erosion on one of my side teeth at gum level, and wonder if this kind of erosion can be filled as it's very sensitive.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-05-04 12:52
I am not a dentist, but I see a lot of advertisements for such products in a dental product suppliers' magazine that I receive.
I had such erosion filled 15 - 20 years ago (now replaced with crowns). Those products tended to fall out, but they are almost certainly a lot better now.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-04 13:03
It's been years since I've been to the dentists, I ought to at least make an appointment for a checkup within the year.
One thing I can say is that since I've had my wisdom teeth out I haven't had any jaw trouble either - I used to have a clicking and locking jaw hinge and this has all cleared up.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-05-04 15:22
"The experience of other people is really rather irrelevant, unless you want to unnecessarily scare yourself."
Wow, I don't agree with that statement. Negative information has a value.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-05-05 00:32
... Providing the parameters involved in the other particular case are pertinent to the case in question.
.. Which is somewhat unlikely for the human body, because we are so individual. The relevance of any anecdotal info to a particular case should surely be left to a person with full training and expertise in the field.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-05-05 12:44
I guess we'll agree to disagree as I respect your opinions too much.
Bob Draznik
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Author: D
Date: 2006-05-08 21:44
You know those retainers that we wear after orthadontic treatment? Well, I was thinking, could you get one made with the missing tooth filled in, and just slip it in when you play......a bit like a well fitting gum shield? It might suffice instead of risky and expensive surgery.
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Author: BillT
Date: 2006-06-13 00:33
I am coming in with a late reply here- about 5 years ago I fainted and fell knocked out my two front teeth - clarinet players worst nightmare, needless to say. I now have one implant, and one cap, and getting back into playing clarinet (I was not playing clarinet at the time of the accident). I had the implant done by a fairly leading implant expert in South Jersey. The strongest tooth in my mouth is now the implant, and I could bite through a mouthpiece with it if I wanted to. There is not a better tooth replacement solution to my knowledge. The thing I worry about is the capped front tooth, which could possibly "die" from the accident...this can happen many years after the trama. In which case I would need a root canal. But so far so good, I was practicing a lot last week, and my weak link now seems to be my thumb is outta shape getting a blister or irritated callous.
Implant rods are made from titanium, not steel, Titanium is light weight and has the property that bone grows right onto it essentially becoming part of your body. I was in late 40's at the time. The implant process does take some time and steps for the bone to graft onto the titanium. It is not cheap. I guess good thing I was not playing because probably was 2 years before I could have started again without pushing it.
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2006-06-13 03:00
Gobboboy wrote:
>> Thanks for all this information, it's all really thorough! But does anyone know anyone or heard of anyone who is a professional player who has had this done and suffered any loss of feeling due to damaged nerves and therefore been detrimental to their career as a musician??>>
...having previously mentioned Gervase de Peyer.
Look at:
http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/1999/03/001236.txt
Tony
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Author: Gobboboy
Date: 2006-06-14 12:15
Thanks for those last couple of posts
I guess nothing like this comes without some element of risk.
I am having the implant done on Monday so I shall see for myself.
There were a couple of factors that I didn't mention, one good & one slightly not so good..
1. I am in an British Military Band so the Army will be paying for all the work!
2. Army Dentists don't exactly have the best reputations....? (hence all my questions of the necessity of the thing)
anyway, like I said, it's free so I mustn't grumble!! I just hope I can get back to playing as soon as possible as my diary has (at last) got some really good gigs in it...
G
ps: I may be talking a bit funny next time!!!
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