flutegirl49 wrote:well.. actually I think that might be why im having a bit of trouble w/ my tone.. if u've read my topic i think u would know wat im talking about.. but then again i dont think something as small as a cap would make a difference?... Im sry about all those u had to get done to ur teeth.. it must have been such a hassle..and hard
I don't know what to say about the crown affecting your tone. I'm afraid to hazard a guess about that being the reason. If you noticed the change as soon as your dentist did the crown, maybe the crown was responsible.
Thanks for the vote of sympathy. Believe me though, compared to some of the problems people have in this world, dental issues of this nature are lightweight. Dentures don't even keep you from playing the flute. I'm just saying that your own teeth are the best of situations.
I've been playing flute for 31 years. I am a semi-professional player, that is to say I'm good enough to make a living playing but not good enough to play with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. I've invested a lot of time and money into my music career and now I fear it is in jeopardy. Last summer my 12 year old nephew accidentally hit me in the face with a baseball. The ball knocked out my front, upper, right tooth and cracked 4 adjacent teeth. My dentist told me that they cannot be repaired and must be pulled. He also told me in order to continue playing my flute I should probably opt for a dental implant rather than a partial plate. But I can't really afford an implant and the partial plate would fit my finances better. Wjat is the likelyhood I will be able to play with a partial denture? Believe it or not I play better with the damn thing better without the tooth. However I'm tired of looking like a hockey player and would like to be able to go out in public and smile again.
Any advise you can give me would surely be appreciated.
Lori
Hi you guys,
I am a flute playing, certified dental technologist with 37 years in the dental industry.
It is impossible to generalize about removable dentures and blowing a flute. Typically a denture patient loses the alveolar bone over time. (This is the horseshoe shaped bone onto which the denture rests and is pasted.) The degree of resorption or bone loss is different in everyone depending on how long they have been without their natural teeth. Trumpet players have problems with upper dentures. Flutists have more of a problem with the lower denture. I can say that the lower alveolar bone is much more prone to resorption (or loss) than the upper. When we apply pressure to the lower lip with a flute we must rely on the stability of whatever it is behind the lower lip be it natural teeth, bridgework or a denture. If the alveolar bone is minimal or gone entirely, the denture "floats" and will move when pressure is applied with a flute. A flutist with this problem may undergo: 1. Alveolar ridge augmentation surgery.
2. Dental implants
3. Fixed Bridgework
This treatment plan will render a natural result allow you to perform natural flute licks.
I hope the above info is helpful. Let me know how things work out.
In your situation, you may wish to consider the following:
1. A resin-bonded retainer or "Maryland" bridge.
Developed in the 1970's at the University of Maryland. This is a replacement tooth (pontic) with metal wings on it . The metal wings are resin-bonded to the adjacent , undamaged teeth on the lingual side, out of view. It feels natural and works like a bridge. Esthetics vary but this technique conserves the tooth structure of the anchor teeth. This procedure is not as invasive or expensive as a regular
porcelain-fused-metal bridge. Catch: The dentist needs to have his act together. If you need help with this decision feel free to send me a personal message. I design stuff like this.
2. A traditional Porcelain-fused-to-metal bridge.
The adjacent, healthy teeth are reduced to a much greater extent. (put through the pencil sharpener). A laboratory fabricated bridged is cemented to replace the missing tooth.
