Brass Meets Dentistry
DENTAL ASPECTS IN PLAYING TRUMPET, TROMBONE, HORN, TUBA AND OTHER BRASS
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Wearing Braces - Playing Brass ?

Now, does this BRACES - US - Info - Page : http://www.bracesinfo.com/braces/index.html
                                                plus this My Yamaha YTR6345 H II mean

                              this ....IT´S ALL GONE !!!!  ???

There were questions from the net about that a couple of times. Here is what I use to reply:

Usually : Yes, but.....

look at the embouchure this way:

Regarding its anatomy, it is a three - part - system:

- the outside part is the mouthpiece
- the middle part are the lips and the related muscles
- the inside part are teeth and jaws

Remember, that you did a very careful and reasonable choice when picking a mouthpiece.
You found, that slight changes of the outside of embouchure system (mouthpiece, rim contour, cup depth etc) have significant effects on brass playing behavior.
So we are talking of dimensions of at least tenth (if not hundreds) of millimeters.
Realize, that labial (at the facial side of teeth) placed braces occupy a space of a couple of millimeters.

Such changes of the embouchures inside part must have dramatic results for its owner, not to mention the sharp edgy design of the braces.

What to do ?

In my opinion, there are following possibilities:

- Use removable orthodontic constructions
- Compromise: Having conventional braces, use almost pressless embouchure ( maybe possible for lower brass, difficult for lead trumpet).
- Use braces applied to the oral (palatinal) side of teeth. This method originated from the US, but I know, that there are problems with these constructions, too.

Ask your orthodontist about this and have your instrument about for dental appointments.
 

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