Wisdom Teeth

For Anything and Everything to do with Flute Playing and Music

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Kristin
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2003 8:41 pm

Wisdom Teeth

Post by Kristin »

I got my wisdom teeth out on Monday (2/23). I had/have very
little swelling and after I went to bed the first night and the numbing wore
off, I could talk fine. It still hurt to play the flute though, in the notes
about E2 mostly, so I held off. Now, 5 days later, my jaw is aching very badly
when I play. Not WHEN I play, exactly, but after I put the flute down. Has
anyone played the flute and gotten their wisdom teeth out? How long until you
were able to play without any pain? I know I should probably hold off until
I''m completely well again, but it''s boring to just do the fingerings and I
miss it so much! [;)] Any ideas?
"When
in doubt, trill." -John Phillip Sousa "Being strong and silent only gets you so
far... it''s the things you don''t say you regret the most."
-Ericsson

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Crazy
Posts: 68
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 7:40 pm

Wisdom Teeth

Post by Crazy »

You need to wait until you are healed or you may run the
risk of dry socket which is very painful. It's not a long time so be patient.
Here's some info on dry socket~note the last paragraph about the straw, which
you are sort of doing playing the flute....(c/p from another site) A "dry
socket" occurs when the blood clot is lost from an extraction site prematurely.
Basically, the blood clot in the socket serves the same two functions as a
"scab" on a skin surface cut. First, it assists in the cessation of bleeding and
second, it protects underlying structures during the healing process. Like the
child who "picks at a scab" the area heals in time but is painful for far longer
than if the "scab" had been left alone. When the blood clot is lost before the
underlying structres have had time to heal, bone is exposed to the oral
environment along with fine nerve endings. This is an exquisitely painful but
otherwise relatively harmless situation. There are packing materials which the
oral surgeon can place to help ease the discomfort both by physically blocking
the wound and by the action of the chemicals in the pack on local nerve endings.
Generally, patients return to have the pack changed every day or two and most
patients do not require more than 2 or three dressing changes. Some patients
require no dressing while others may require 4 or 5 changes of packing. Tincture
of time and good oral hygiene usually resolve the situation. There are some
activities which may increase the propensity for dry socket formation...smoking,
drinking carbonated beverages in the first 24 hours after surgery, spitting or
drinking through a straw in that same time period...but often "dry sockets"
occur for no particular reason at al

Kristin
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2003 8:41 pm

Wisdom Teeth

Post by Kristin »

Heh, that's not what I wanted to hear! I know that anyone
can get dry socket, but my dentist said that it was mostly older people that
that happens to-- and I'm only 16. I had my private lesson yesterday (normally
it's on Tuesdays; I postponed it) and my teacher knew that I got them out and
didn't say anything about having had any students having problems because of it
(and she's had a LOT of students). You're right, though, I'm sure. I tried
fooling around with my minimal piano skills today, trying to get my music fix,
but I can't read bass clef for my life, so it wasn't much fun. Maybe I'll try
again. Or just play the flute sparingly and pop the motrin for a few more days
[;)] Thanks for your reply!! [:)]
"When
in doubt, trill." -John Phillip Sousa "Being strong and silent only gets you so
far... it''s the things you don''t say you regret the most."
-Ericsson

User avatar
Crazy
Posts: 68
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 7:40 pm

Wisdom Teeth

Post by Crazy »

I'm sorry that isn't what you wanted to hear but I am
trying to help. I had my wisdom teeth out one at a time when I was 18-20. I did
get dry socket with one of them. It hurts a lot. It doesn't take too long to
heal just give it a few more days or if you really can't wait don't play for
too long a time at one time. Good luck.

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