Braces for professional players

[oswaldotrompeta]

Hello everyone,

I have seen/read many cases of high school students, or trumpet aficionados, with braces, but I am wondering if any of you know of any adult, PROFESSIONAL (who makes a living by performing) trumpet player that has had braces while still performing successfully?

I am asking because I am considering orthodontic treatment for my overcrowded teeth. I believe that I could perform better if my teeth were straight. Invisalign is not an option for me, according to my initial orthodontic consultation. My plan would be to try the braces for one month to see if I can still do my job (teach and perform, mostly classical) before committing to an extended treatment plan (including extractions).

I am also following Dr. Jordi Albert, who is conducting research on this topic, but I would love to hear some testimonials.

[snichols]

That's a tough one... The adjustment to braces, while it can certainly be done with success, takes time. My worry would be that the one month you give yourself to try them out wouldn't be long enough to fully adjust, and you might end up spending a lot of money and going through a lot of hassle before you're sure if you can make the adjustment. I know for me it took longer than a month, just for the inside of my lips to toughen up and get used to them - that's before trying to adjust my technique or anything.

I see you're a professor, and I'm not sure what your performing load is, but would you be able to give yourself more time to try them out, like 2 or 3 months? Maybe if you timed it over summer break or something? I think it would also be worth it to get a 2nd opinion from another orthodontist about Invisalign (or something like it), because that seems like it would be the least invasive to your playing as you could take them out before you play...

[John Mohan]

I had braces during my freshman and sophomore years of high school and I went from having a solid high C, to a painful middle C or an excruciating G on top of the staff (or round-abouts) for my top notes. Also, standard braces with the wire in front of the teeth tends to anchor the lips so they can't move about as they need to when ascending and descending in register.

So in short, I don't see how one could play at a professional level while wearing braces (at least not the conventional type with the hardware in front of the teeth).

But that said, perhaps it would be worth a year or two of not being able to play at a professional level if the trade is for a lifetime of improved playing. That's your decision to make (and I'm glad it's not mine!).

Best wishes,

John Mohan
_________________
Trumpet Player, Clinician & Teacher
1st Trpt for Cats, Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Evita, Hunchback of Notre Dame,
Grease, The Producers, Addams Family, In the Heights, etc.
Ex LA Studio Musician
16 Year Claude Gordon Student

[JoseLindE4]

PM sent.

[Andy Del]

I don't want to get your hopes up, but are you SURE Invisalign are not possible for you? Perhaps seeking a second opinion is warranted. As I am not an orthodontist, I won't comment further on that.

But I do know a tuba and horn player who both had traditional orthodontic braces and were employed in a tenured position with an orchestra and kept their playing up. So anything is possible, but you will need to be the one who does that hard work!

cheers

Andy
_________________
so many horns, so few good notes...

[chrisf3000]

You might want to try asking a trumpet-playing dentist. For example, Ted Melchers is a dentist in the Charleston, SC area. He is a decent trumpet player, personable and very knowledgable about such things - you may want to consider reaching out to him.

Personally, I had my front teeth "built up" at one point to make them look straight. Adding the slightest bit of composite to the tooth dropped my range by about a fifth. I panicked and had them remove it - my range immediately came back. It was definitely an insight into what happens when you put something on the front of your teeth!

That said, if you know you can put up with two years of not having that part of the range, you will most likely be able to play "ok" and may just come out golden on the other end. But the operative word is "may". This is where you should get advice from someone who knows about orthodontics as well as what it takes to play the trumpet. Just a guess, but there's probably a lot of similarities between orthodontics and embouchure changes.

I know you are asking for names of people who can successfully play during (or after) getting braces, but I think everyone is different. You should definitely get professional opinions before undertaking it yourself.

[HaveTrumpetWillTravel]

It's a really tough one. I had four adult and four wisdom teeth extracted in my teens and my mouth is about right now. If you have a similar set-up I can't imagine that braces will be effective without the extractions.

I think your experience could be really valuable, since this seems to be a perennial question (how to deal with getting braces on or off) on this and other trumpet forums. It may also be that you could do some formal research out of it. You could easily become the definitive pro expert on this question!

I know some people have used Yamaha's digital trumpet if they have major mouth issues--it's possible it would at least allow you to continue teaching.

Good luck!

[Billy B]

Unless you have a tooth cutting you, straight teeth will not help you play better.
_________________
Bill Bergren

[cheiden]

Make sure you have a really good set of impressions of your existing teeth before doing anything.

I do agree that finding an orthodontist who understands brass players, or better yet, is a brass player would be infinitely preferable.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[John Mohan]

[Billy B]

<If your teeth are extremely crooked, it might help.>

What are you basing this on?
_________________
Bill Bergren

[mcstock]

Richard Giangulio used a retainer for a few years while playing in the Dallas Symphony. One of his bottom front teeth began to rotate forward and he started to lose the "foundation" he'd always felt when he played. The retainer gradually pushed it back in place. This was in the early 1980s. He wrote about it in the ITG journal many years ago. Shouldn't be hard to find.

Best,
Matt
_________________
“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.�
Epictetus

[Billy B]

Karl Sievers DMA dissertation.
_________________
Bill Bergren

[Irving]

The whole experience could end up making your playing worse. You can't predict the outcome. Is it a fact that players with straight teeth play better than those with crooked teeth? Unless there is a medical reason to have braces, I would give it a lot of serious thought. After all, you learned how to play with the set of teeth that you have. Why do you think that changing your teeth will help you?

[John Mohan]

[oswaldotrompeta]

Thank you so much everyone for the replies/info! I already got some player’s and dentist’s names to continue this research.

The reason why I think I MIGHT end up improving my playing is because of the shape and size of the oral cavity. I believe that can affect the sound and tonguing. My biggest concern is, of course, related to the front teeth and lips area. I believe that sound, flexibility, range, and endurance can be affected here.

Let me explain why I am CONSIDERING to get the treatment: I suffer gum recession that, according to a periodontal doctor consultation, is caused or affected for the severe crowded teeth. I was told that I should get extractions and wear braces to fix my teeth and stop the recession of the gums. That was about 20 year ago. I opted for not getting extraction or braces, and got instead removable retainers to, at least, stop the crowed teeth to get worse. I have somewhat controled the gum recession trying to have very good dental hygiene, but (even when) the crowded teeth make this difficult.

Now, I feel a little encouragement from my friend, Dr. Jordi Albert, who is doing a research on the topic (check it out in YouTube). Dr. Albert has been wearing braces for several months now, and is able to play and do his job well. Furthermore, I got a little worried as a relative’s jaw cracked recently because of the crowded teeth. To be honest, that terrifies me!

I already got an appointment with a different orthodontist to make sure Invisalign (which was my first choice) is not an option, and to see if we could avoid the extractions. The plan would be to start at the very beginning of my summer break. I would not pretend to be able to perform as before in a month, but I believe that first month would be enough to foresee if I will be able to manage it or not. Otherwise, I would just take them off after that month. If that is my decision, they are ok with me to stop the payments at that point.

Either way, I am researching as much as possible before making a decision. I appreciate all the feedback from all of you!

Oz

[cheiden]

I've known a few people who were able to avoid the traditional extractions by using devices to spread the teeth and make room for the teeth to be straightened.

Sounds like your motivation is sound with regard to the receding gums. Though I wouldn't think it would result in an appreciable difference in the oral cavity.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[cheiden]

[oswaldotrompeta]

Thank you for your reply and for sharing your story.

My update on this:

I got a gum graft, and started Invisalign treatment. I change trays every 5 days, and it’s going very well. I also had 4 molars extracted since my case is so severe, and my plan includes 88 trays. That is a long time! However, I can play normally! I lost about a third of my range, but slowly got it back during the first month. Another small hassle has been that I have to file the trays in specific places, so it is comfortable for the embouchure and tongue. But I know exactly how/where to file the trays and it’s really not a big deal.
I am not saying this to encourage anyone to get Invisalign, but it has been not a problem for me to play with the trays. I have been playing recitals (classical) and concerts as a principal trumpet of the local symphony orchestra with no problems.

I am considering writing an article about Invisalign for trumpet players for the ITG. I think this is a topic that can be of interest for many players, professors and students. What do you think?

[HaveTrumpetWillTravel]

Sounds like it has gone much better than anticipated! I think it would be great to write it up and publish it.