This may be silly, but I need some advice. My right front tooth is a “crown” and it came out a few months ago. A short trip to the dentist, and he fitted it back in again. It came out again on Thursday, and was replaced again. I tried playing the flute last night and was really struggling to get good tone on the bottom notes. It then occurred to me that this had been happening quite often since the crown was replaced the first time. What I’m wondering is, can a change in the shape of your teeth affect the stream of air coming up from your throat significantly enough to affect tone. After the 2nd replacement - which is temporary - the right tooth is slightly lower than the left, whereas previously they were even.
This may be total rubbish, but if so, then it’s an odd coincidence that the tone has only been affected since the crown came out and was replaced.
Do I need to go back to my dentist [ which will probably cost, although I could argue he didn’t do the job right in the first place - ], or does my problem lie elsewhere ?
This takes on an added urgency, as the Willie Clancy week starts next week.
Thanks !
I don’t think anybody can offer any advice, especially without seeing what’s going on. I’ve had enough problem with my own teeth that I can offer sympathy. If it were me I’d probably just struggle on and try to make the best of a bad situation, and resolve the crown problem after Willie Week.
I lost a crown facing in one of my front teeth not too long ago. It was uncomfortable but I could still play. I would think that since the problem is the upper teeth you’d be able to adapt in a day or so. But only you can really tell.
As someone with “dental challenges” I don’t think you’re off at all. You’ll probably have to “relearn,” in a sense, how to get your good tone once things settle down.
Long story short, and speaking as one who has lost several upper teeth, I can easily play a flute as well or better now than when I had a full set of teeth. I know it’s an ugly subject, but I am writing this to help assure you that a lack of teeth will not impede your flute playing future. Try thinking of it this way, that teeth, after all, can only get in the way of your airstream.
That’s my opinion.
I know my whole mouth feels funny after dental work so it’s probably that strange getting used to it feeling causing the trouble. Eventually, you’ll be used to your new tooth and won’t notice it anymore. That’s only a guess. I really don’t know for sure, but I can imagine that if my mouth felt strange, differently-shaped, or just not the same anymore I wouldn’t be able to use it with the same ease for a while.
Many thanks for all your replies. Seemed a bit better yesterday.