Teeth & Embouchure

happyhorn · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 4:19 pm Post subject: Teeth & Embouchure

I’m an older returning player at 66. Over the years, my lower teeth have worn down a bit and are displaced slightly. The dentist tells me this is normal for a guy my age. Now the problem is my mouthpiece placement. Since they’re no longer perfectly aligned (flat) and worn down, some of my teeth dig into my lower lip and my mouthpiece sets on the edge of my lower teeth since they’re now shorter. As you can imagine, this is uncomfortable. Is there any work around for my situation? There is really no where to change the mouthpiece placement since all my lower front teeth are now crooked and worn down. I’ve tried going to a larger/wider mouthpiece but the contact point on my lower remains the same.

YBChen · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 5:51 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear your issues with the lower teeth. I've been struggling with dental issues on my playing for quite a while. Changing a bigger mpc might here since it covers more surface on your teeth, which gives better support on the lower teeth. However, it requires more strength to play as well. It will be worthwhile to get some dental wax to make the crooked lower teeth flat first to see if that helps. If that does, dentists can help you solve that issue for sure.

LittleRusty · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 6:03 pm Post subject:

I have wondered if there is a prosthetic like an athletic mouth guard that could be made by your dentist to sit over your lower teeth and simulate your old lower teeth alignment.

happyhorn · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 7:10 pm Post subject:

Jaw04 · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 10:55 am Post subject:

I also am curious about mouthpieces or wax to go over damaged, crooked, or missing teeth. Also if a wedge mouthpiece might be useful in this situation. I don't have any experience with either but those are just ideas.

cheiden · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 12:44 pm Post subject:

I've always had fairly crooked bottom teeth and that hasn't been a problem.

Due to a big problem with my top teeth (I'll spare you the details) I've had to go through a top front tooth extraction and I'm currently undergoing orthodontics, in my case, Invisaligns. To compensate for the missing tooth I've learned that I can play with the top tray installed. I can play with the lower tray covering my bottom teeth though in my case I find it harder. Might work for you, though it's an expensive thing just to try.

There's another thing that has helped me. I used to have just a couple or point on my teeth that would dig into my lip. One day I complained to my dentist. After some discussion he took a tool and blunted those points. Problem solved. I was concerned about the enamel but he assured me it would be fine.

And just to mention it, my nominal embouchure never produces significant force on my lower teeth. If I make a concerted effort I can extend my jaw to produce significant pressure on my lower lip and it always results on a fat lower lip, so I don't. Is it at all possible that you raise your horn angle or pull back your jaw just slightly to reduce the pressure on the bottom lip?
_________________
"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

happyhorn · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 1:58 pm Post subject:

YBChen · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 6:08 pm Post subject:

YBChen · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 6:10 pm Post subject:

JayKosta · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2020 4:08 am Post subject:

YBChen · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 5:24 am Post subject:

cheiden · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2020 7:53 am Post subject:

I have a friend that's a monster high note player. His to front teeth overlap just a bit and there's a noticeable chip on the one of them. He tells that for cosmetic reasons he had a dentist fill that chip. If I recall correctly he said he lost an octave, and nothing he did seems to get it back. Before too long he found a file and and recreated the chip. Range came right back.
_________________
"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

Turkle · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2020 8:05 am Post subject:

JoseLindE4 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 791

There’s a thread on here about John Hagstrom and dental prosthetics. That might be a place to start.

YBChen · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2020 8:54 pm Post subject:

Yes, in terms of the teeth, it seems like as long as it works, just leave it there. But there is another aspect that sometimes gets overlooked. If it doesn't work, then what, and how to get it to work.

JayKosta · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2020 5:02 am Post subject:

Vin DiBona · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2020 6:00 am Post subject:

I suggest you talk to a mouthpiece manufacturer. They often deal with situations like this and can very likely help you much better than anyone here.
Try calling, Phyllis Stork, Karl Hammond, Mark Curry, Pickett, Schilke, and if you have more money to spend, Bob Reeves, GR (Brian Scriver), and Warburton.
It may be a simple matter of a different rim with the crown of the rim moved outward or something a bit larger with a flatter rim.
Here is a listing of some more manufacturers.
http://www.trumpetperformancetips.com/trumpetlinks.html
R. Tomasek