Wisdom Teeth

[sidekicker]

Hello all --

I was wondering if anybody here has ever had their wisdom teeth out whilst still studying the flute and/or playing professionally.

I'm due to have 4 of mine out (two upper and two lower) next month. I've played the flute for over 30 years and I'd be devastated if I were unable to play anymore, or if my playing were adversely affected in any way. I've just purchased a very expensive new flute and, even though I don't rely upon the flute to make a living, it would crush me if I had problems afterward.

Has anybody here ever had their wisdom teeth out like this? If so, what were your experiences regarding flute playing afterward. If it makes any difference, I'm 43 yrs old -- so I'm not the young chicken most of you are on here .

I'd appreciate any advice/experiences at all from anybody who has gone through this has to offer. The only reason I'm having them out now is that I keep getting infections (1-2x per year) in my lower teeth that require treatment (the uppers are not a problem; he just wants to take them out at the same time to avoid potential problems later). I'm tempted to nix the whole thing if it might affect my playing

Thanks in advance!
SK

[snowstripedmoose]

Hi,

I had all four wisdom teeth taken out plus two others. The only problem I have encountered is that you can get tenderness in the jaw occasionally. At first it was hard to deal with but now it doesn't worry me at all.

There is no adverse affects at all really. My surgeon screwed up my jaw and I can still play without any problems. So i don't think you have too much to worry about really.

Aside: which expensive flute did you buy?

[musical_Kat]

I personally haven't had mine out...yet. I need to though i've been putting it off. But while I was in college, a girl in my flute quartet had her's pulled and played a gig with us 3 days later. I think you should be just fine. I hope that helps!

[sidekicker]

Aside: which expensive flute did you buy?

A gold Brannen . It has been my dream flute for many years.

Thanks for your help on the wisdom teeth issue. I'm due to have them out next month, and still a little worried about it.

SK

[cflutist]

SK,

Congrats on the new flute
So what have you done with your Haynes?

I had all of my wisdom teeth out in college but in two different sessions. The lowers were impacted and all I remember is that my face was swollen for a while. The uppers were a piece of cake and I remember going bowling that afternoon. My flute playing was not affected.

[fluteguy18]

Hi. Been there, done that.

Here is what I did and would recommend. Go to the best oral surgeon that you can get/afford. When you go in make sure you tell them you are a flutist [regardless of the fact that you don't play full-time at the moment]. If you do this, they will be much more careful and use smaller tools [tubes, needles - everything to avoid a mal-practice lawsuit]. Also ask them to put you into what is called a "twilight sleep" when they put you under for the procedure. Basically they combine a drug [can't remember it] and morphine and put it in your system. You are awake through the whole thing, but you won't remember a single thing about it. [It's amazing trust me ].

Then just avoid moving your jaw too much before your first post-op appointment. I was unfortunate enough to get a dry socket and they had to pack the exposed bone and nerve with gauze soaked in iodine for another 4 days. So avoid playing for a few days.

I was playing my piccolo in marching band [college ::shudder::] exactly a week later. [Actually earlier, which might have been why I got the dry socket, but anyway....].

Don't sweat it. Just ask for the Twilight sleep if they will do it, and make sure you tell them you are a flutist. They will take extra care with all of the needles, IV's etc. etc.


Post procedure, I have noticed that I tend to have slight problems with pressure in my ears on occasion. My surgeon said that sort of thing sometimes is a result because the roots of your wisdom teeth are right by the deepest parts of you inner ear. It doesn't hurt, just annoying sometimes.

[sidekicker]

SK,

Congrats on the new flute
So what have you done with your Haynes?

I still have my Haynes, and will never get rid of it. I love that flute, and it is vastly different from my new one.

I do not have the Brannen yet. The reason is that I bought the demo that they had at convention; I did not want them to make me one "like" it. Instead, I wanted that particular flute because I had played another flute identical to it a couple of years ago and while it was a great instrument, it was not as spectacular as this particular one was.

Brannen is somewhat unique with how they make/sell flutes. They schedule production based on when you would like to pay for the flute you order. So they have people schedule in particular places. Because I bought the demo, they need to replace that one. However, they cannot replace the demo until they make the other flutes in line ahead of it, and they can't give me the demo until a new one is made. Essentially, it is as though I ordered a flute instead of bought one, and just like I would have had to wait in line for a newly-manufactured instrument, I must wait in line until they can make the replacement for this one. Hopefully, I will have it in a few months. It will be worth it. And in the meantime I still have my beloved Haynes.

SK

[Christina's_Mom]

I had my wisdom teeth taken out and it didn't affect my playing at all. I wasn't able to play for a few days for fear of dry socket but.....

Good luck with the new flute!

[sandara1]

Read through all the posts, but have any of you had the 4 wisdom teeth, the 2 extra fangs pulled, and THEN had braces put over whatever was left? Daughter has been playing 3 years through middle school, she's incredibly good, and we'd like to get the braces done before high school starts so she'll have summer to get used to them and see how it affects flute in high school. The oral surgeon wants to pull all 6 before the wisdom teeth even come in. Yikes....