Get to Know Your Patients Beyond the Dental Chair
• It’s essential to understand a patient’s lifestyle, especially junior high or high school students.
• Asking questions about extracurricular activities (like music) builds rapport, strengthens case acceptance, and leads to more customized care.
• Many providers only use basic health questionnaires, but neglect to ask what instruments a student plays, which can be a big oversight.
The Role of Musical Instruments in Orthodontic Treatment
• Specific instruments, especially brass (e.g. trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba) and woodwinds (e.g. clarinet, saxophone, flute, oboe, bassoon) require unique mouth positioning (embouchure) that exerts counterforces on the teeth.
• These counterforces can influence the direction of tooth movement, making it more unpredictable or resistant to treatment.
• Malocclusion and bite issues may be exacerbated if the instrument is played intensely or frequently.
Adjusting Treatment Plans Accordingly
• Knowing what instrument, the patient plays helps guide:
o Appliance selection (clear aligners may be better for comfort and precision).
o Treatment design, including ClinCheck setup.
o Expectations for treatment time and movement patterns.
• Personal story: Dr. Amanda shares that as a clarinet and oboe player with braces, the experience was painful and discouraging, eventually leading her to give up music.
Action Steps for Providers
• Implement a patient lifestyle questionnaire that includes musical activities.
• Educate parents and patients on why you’re asking these questions, which builds trust and shows care.
• Consider clear aligners like Invisalign over fixed braces for students in band programs to avoid discomfort and complications.