I searched for this topic before I posted, and the most recent mention I found on this was 2009, so I’m starting a fresh thread on it here. If that was a misstep, please let me know.
I had a dental procedure done yesterday, a re-treatment on the root of an upper molar, wherein some tissue had started to grow into the wrong place. The surgery was done through the gum tissue, and I had four tiny stitches. (Do endodontists take up embroidery for a hobby?) I peppered him with questions about the recovery process, and almost as an afterthought, asked about playing wind instruments. He seemed surprised by the topic, but said, “Good question!” and I thought, oops, and he then added that I should give it “at least a week.”
He explained that anything that built up back pressure in the mouth could potentially cause an air embolism under the skin, separating the tissue that was trying to heal in the gums where he accessed the tooth, and essentially causing a little bubble of air there.
Yikes! It scares me a bit that he didn’t bring this up on his own, and that I could have easily skipped asking, since I expected an answer of `no big deal’. I’m just kind of relentless when it comes to questions, so I was checking that off my list.
I’m not saying this would apply to all dental surgery that one might encounter. Just suggesting that if you have interesting things happening in your mouth, you may want to ask questions.
I had a tooth pulled (that will shortly receive an implant after nearly a year long process) and my dental surgeon said to play away and pain was my only limitation.
I didn’t trust that and a lot of Google searches later settled on a week of no flute/whistle and have now had not just the pull but a cadaver bone and plate implant and the week off method led to zero problems.
I wish dentists/doctors could be more informed! Yours did good.
Eric
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None of the dentists I’ve known over the last 50 years mentioned not playing after certain procedures. Neither did they say not to engage in contact sports. Probably because while such activities are common the majority don’t play wind instruments or engage in contact sports. If they know you’re a tuba player I would expect them to speak up,though.
Whatever post op instructions we’re given sometimes we have to extrapolate from that. When in doubt do what Snowleopard did.
ask.
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The instructions I got said not to use a straw for the first week. I figure it’s the same kind of pressure, but in reverse.
I admit to trying to very gently blow on a whistle, and immediately felt pressure on the area. Doesn’t take much.
I’ve got a new low D arriving in the mail tomorrow, so I’m pretty sure I would have been trying that if he hadn’t given me that red light. I’m not sure I would have been as diligent as you were in seeking more information.
Especially any time you have a procedure that requires insertion of a blood clot, that is going to be very delicate for a while.
All the best with the implant and graft and the rest of the process.
I am going to make the suggestion to my regular dentist and the specialist to make a practice of asking their patients if they play wind instruments (and the contact sport thing would be good, too), and flag that in their files. And if necessary, do some research so that they can better support recovery for those patients.