An Embouchure Aid for Wind Musicians

Giuseppe Sapienza

Name: Giuseppe Sapienza Main Subject: Classical Clarinet Research Supervisor: Wouter Verschuren Title of the Research: An Embouchure Aid for Wind Musicians Research Question: Assessing whether playing a wind instrument can change tooth position and investigate the effectiveness of an embouchure support device to provide dental support. This study was inspired by the author's personal experience of discomfort and pain while playing the clarinet and aims to investigate the potential relationship between dental health and clarinet playing, specifically the impact of the mouthpiece on tooth position and stability. A literature review of previous studies on the connection between wind instruments and tooth movement was conducted. The author collaborated with two professional dentists to develop an embouchure support device called PlayAid. The device was prototyped and tested by the author with a positive outcome. The study found a correlation between playing the clarinet and an increased risk of dental problems, including tooth mobility, erosion, and discomfort. The upper incisors were the most commonly affected teeth. The literature review showed that playing wind instruments can cause changes in tooth position, specifically an increase in overjet. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that an embouchure support device, like PlayAid, can effectively provide dental support for players with dental problems but also for those who exclusively seek better embouchure comfort and sound quality. The chosen format of a presentation will be a public exposition of the results of the research with a live demonstration of PlayAid.

Bibliography:

Journals:

Clemente, M. P. et al.

"Wind Instrumentalist Embouchure and the Applied Forces on the Perioral Structures." The Open Dentistry Journal 13, no. 1 (March 28, 2019).

Engelman, J. A.
"Measurement of Perioral Pressures during Playing of Musical Wind Instruments." American Journal of Orthodontics 51, no. 11 (November 1965): 856-64.

Grammatopoulos, E.

"A Study of the Effects of Playing a Wind Instrument on the Occlusion." PhD Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of the University of Birmingham, Degree of Master of Philosophy, (December 2009): 145.

Herman, E.

"Dental Considerations in the Playing of Musical Instruments." The Journal of the American Dental Association. The Instrumentalist, (January 1976): 10.

Kovero, O., Könönen, M., and Pirinen, S.

"The Effect of Violin Playing on the Bony Facial Structures in Adolescents." European Journal of Orthodontics 19, no. 4 (August 1997): 369-75.

Porter, M. M.

"Dental Problems in Wind Instrument Playing. 1. Dental Aspects of Embouchure." British Dental Journal 123, no. 10 (November 21, 1967): 393-96.

Proffit, W. R., Fields, H. W. and Sarver D. M.

Contemporary orthodontics. Elsevier Health Sciences, (2006).

Strayer, E. R.

"Musical Instruments as an Aid in the Treatment of Muscle Defects and Perversions." Angle Orthodontist, (1939): 18-27.

Van der Weijden, F. N. et al.

"Does Playing a Wind Instrument Influence Tooth Position and Facial Morphology?: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics/Fortschritte Der Kieferorthopädie 81, no. 4 (July 2020): 267-85.

Yeo, Dkl et al.

"Specific Orofacial Problems Experienced by Musicians." Australian Dental Journal 47, no. 1 (2002): 2-11.

Webpages:

Eaton, P.

“Gervase de Peyer as I knew him: some personal reminiscences.” Eaton Clarinets. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.eatonclarinets.com/gervaseandme.html.

Cooper, M.

"How to Develop the Proper Clarinet Embouchure." Musical Instrument Guide. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://musicalinstrumentguide.com/how-to-develop-proper-clarinet-embouchure/

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Giuseppe Sapienza - An Embouchure Aid for Wind Musicians - 2023