[TPIN] orthodontic resident and fellow trumpet player seeking information

[Glenn Bengry]

Lily,
 
     I will say this for whatever it may be worth to you and for whatever it may be worth to other players.(I've told this story or part of it before)
 
    Plenty of players have poo pooed my problems as being in my head or me exxagerating etc.  but for me my situation is/was as real as the day is long.
 
 
    I had some very crooked teeth, some turned so that sharp edges faced strategic support spots in the front where the mouthpiece is placed.
I had significant recurrent trouble over years, ultimately ending with, not only an injured cheek muscle, but with that cheek muscle tearing off the bone.  I spent the next year healingI didn't play for at least 6 months and beginning to use bonding and filing to smooth out these edges and give me a smoother, wider surface upon with to disperse the mouthpiece pressure and support the mouthpiece.  I also had one side of my mouth that was "higher" or "further forward" and the other more recessed.  I was able to balance this to some degree over several years with bonding, filing, and with two caps.
 
    This teethwork allowed me to develop and play professionally(to some degree at least!)  A recent fracture of some of the bonding in front on the bottom, which exposed that real sharp tooth, caused me to reinjure my cheek after 20 years of healthy function served to reinforce the idea that this was a serious issue. I took two weeks off the horn.  Subsequent repair of the bonding, healing of the cheek muscle, and development of my embouchure beyond all previous levels even further serves to offer evidence of "structur/form equals function" with regards to my teeth.
 
    Whether or not this fits your study I don't know. Perhaps it does, or perhaps it will offer another area to include in your research.
 
glenn, too stubborn to quit, bengry
 
x
 
x____________________________________________________ > > Dr. Workman, There is a bunch of research out there on this subject. Try to> get your hands on the ITG Journal CD-ROM and you will find a couple of> articles. Also, look for the doctoral dissertation of Dr. Karl Sievers who> is professor of trumpet at Univ. of Oklahoma. His DMA was from UMKC and it> was on this very subject.> > I also found some interesting articles in the brass bulletin on this> subject.> > MA> > > > > > I have been playing trumpet for 12 years and am also an orthodontic resident.> > I am doing my research on how occlusion 9the way your teeth come together)> > affects a musician's ability to perform. I have heard through fellow> > musicians that there is a groups of people who believe in deliberately> > changing their teeth to aid in their performance. Does anyone have any> > information about this? I am super excited about this project and would love> > any information you could give me on this. thanks!> > > > -Dr. Lily Workman, DDS!