Open Access, Peer-reviewed
eISSN 2234-7666
    Restor Dent Endod. 2012 Mar;37(1):54-60. Korean.
    Published online Mar 02, 2012.
    https://doi.org/10.5395/rde.2012.37.1.54
    ©Copyights 2012. The Korean Academy of Conservative Dentistry.
    Case Report

    An embouchure aid for saxophone player

    Ho-Jin Moon
      • Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Lab., Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea.
    • Correspondence to Ho-Jin Moon, DDS, MSD. Researcher, Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Lab., Dankook University, Sinbu-dong, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Korea 330-716. TEL, +82-10-2062-5288; FAX, +82-41-553-5288; Email: alkydes@dankook.ac.kr
    Received December 06, 2011; Revised January 16, 2012; Accepted January 20, 2012.

    This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

    Abstract

    This study aims to introduce the method that can relieve vibrating forces to oral environment by making an embouchure aid. Thin plastic crown forms were fabricated to prevent tooth abrasion and irritation to lip mucosa for the saxophone player. After application to the player, the most comfort form was chosen and delivered to 3 professional saxophone players. After 5 mon, the players responded to the survey. This embouchure aid did not disturb playing and gave comfort to lower lip. In general, the players preferred thin soft type and thought it caused little effect on sound. Far too little attention has been paid to the problems encountered by single-reed wind instrumentalist who suffer from tooth abrasion and irritation to lip mucosa. The embouchure aid not only prevent tooth damage but also diminish the discomfort of tight embouchure.

    Keywords
    Embouchure aid; Lip irritation; Pressure molding technique; Saxophone; Tooth abrasion; Wind instrument

    Figures

    Figure 1
    Saxophone embouchure (an embouchure for the single reed instrument). Reproduced from Porter MM (1967).

    Figure 2
    Case 1. Intraoral photographs taken prior to treatment (upper incisors, facial view).

    Figure 3
    Case 1. Intraoral photographs taken after resin treatment (upper incisors, facial view).

    Figure 4
    Stress-focused area in saxophone embouchure (upper incisors).

    Figure 5
    Stress-focused area in saxophone embouchure (lower incisors).

    Figure 6
    Embouchure aid from the pressure mold technique.

    Tables

    Table 1
    The pilot design of embouchure aid

    Table 2
    Thickness and layer type of embouchure aid

    Table 3
    Survey reply after 6 months

    References

      1. Teal L. Some fundamentals for the saxophone. Music Educ J 1938;25:50–51.
      1. Herman E. Dental considerations in the playing of musical instruments. J Am Dent Assoc 1974;89:611–619.
      1. Engelman JA. Measurement of perioral pressures during playing of musical wind instruments. Am J Orthod 1965;51:856–864.
      1. Gualtieri PA. May Johnny or Janie play the clarinet? The Eastman Study: a report on the orthodontic evaluations of college-level and professional musicians who play brass and woodwind instruments. Am J Orthod 1979;76:260–276.
      1. Pignotti D. Department of Physics, University of IllinoisInput impedance spectrum for a tenor sax and a Bb trumpet. [updated 2011 Dec 2].
        Available from: http://online.physics.uiuc.edu.
      1. Fuhrimann S, Schüpbach A, Thüer U, Ingervall B. Natural lip function in wind instrument players. Eur J Orthod 1987;9:216–223.
      1. Yeo DK, Pham TP, Baker J, Porters SA. Specific orofacial problems experienced by musicians. Aust Dent J 2002;47:2–11.
      1. Herman E. Orthodontic aspects of musical instrument selection. Am J Orthod 1974;65:519–530.
      1. Porter MM. Dental problems in wind instrument playing. 2. Single-reed instruments-the lip shield. Br Dent J 1967;123:441–443.
      1. Porter MM. Dental problems in wind instrument playing. 3. Single-reed instruments-restorative dentistry. Br Dent J 1967;123:489–493.
      1. Krivin M, Conforth SG. An embouchure aid for clarinet and saxophone players. J Am Dent Assoc 1975;90:1277–1281.
      1. Cremmel R, Frank RM. Pulpe syndrome of wind instrument players. Rev Fr Odontostomatol 1971;18:1027–1037.
      1. Porter MM. The embouchure and some of its endodontic problems. J Br Endod Soc 1975;8:27–28.
      1. Gunst V, Huybrechts B, De Almeida Neves A, Bergmans L, Van Meerbeek B, Lambrechts P. Playing wind instruments as a potential aetiologic cofactor in external cervical resorption: two case reports. Int Endod J 2011;44:268–282.
      1. Gambichler T, Boms S, Freitag M. Contact dermatitis and other skin conditions in instrumental musicians. BMC Dermatol 2004;4:3.
      1. Barkvoll P, Attramadal A. Recurrent herpes labialis in a military brass band. Scand J Dent Res 1987;95:256–258.
      1. Metzger F, Haccuria A, Reboux G, Nolard N, Dalphin JC, De Vuyst P. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to molds in a saxophone player. Chest 2010;138:724–726.
      1. Lodha S, Sharma OP. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a saxophone player. Chest 1988;93:1322.
      1. Inoue A, Shoji A, Yashiro K. Saxophonist's cane reed cheilitis. Contact Dermatitis 1998;39:37.
      1. Cheshire WP. Trigeminal neuralgia in wind musicians. Headache 2006;46:1458–1460.
      1. Lee WY, Choi SH, Kim SH. Clinical study on the effect of wind instrument playing on periodontal conditions. Jour Periodont Imp Sci 1994;24:390–396.
      1. Bergström J, Eliasson S. Alveolar bone height in professional musicians. Acta Odontol Scand 1986;44:141–147.
      1. Korea customs serivce: Current trend in trading of the musical instrument. [updated 2011 August 25].
        Available from: http://www.customs.go.kr.
      1. Bergström J, Eliasson S. Dental care habits, oral hygiene, and gingival health in Swedish professional musicians. Acta Odontol Scand 1985;43:191–197.
      1. Bergström J, Eliasson S. Dental health in professional musicians. A radiographic study in dental conscious subjects. Swed Dent J 1985;9:225–231.
    MeSH Terms
    Crowns
    Lip
    Mucous Membrane
    Plastics
    Tooth
    Tooth Abrasion
    Wind
    Metrics
    Share
    Figures
    slide
    slide
    slide
    slide
    slide
    slide

    1 / 6

    Tables
    slide
    slide
    slide

    1 / 3

    PERMALINK