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Hey everyone!

I have to get all four of my wisdom teeth pulled next week an I wanted to know how long I have to wait before I can start playing tuba again. One week? Two Weeks? If I start practicing too early will that hurt me? I have a music camp that I have to attend June 29th, so the sooner I can start practicing, the better!

-Dan

Hey Dan,

When I had all four of my wisdom teeth pulled, I was able to start playing again within the next week. This could vary depending on how fast you heal. I seem to remember there not being much pain but rather it just feeling kinda strange the first time I played. Good Luck!

-Kerry

My experiences are roughly the same. Once the holes had healed and stopped bleeding (within a day) I don't remember there being any pain at all, except when washing the holes out. A week to be safe, but maybe, mabye, three or four days? A week to be safe though.

I had complications. It took exactly one month. And that was with a broken jaw.

I would wait a week to be safe...but didn't your surgeon say something to you? I'd be surprised if he didn't say anything. I had mine cut out (not sure if it's different than pulling in terms of recovery time) and mine bled for about 8-9 days so playing was out of the question. My surgeon said this was normal...I was freaking out that they wouldn't clot...lol He also said to take about a week off so I didn't mess up the healing process. Anyway, just take it easy and I would play it safe and take a week off. You shouldn't fall too far behind and playing wasn't too big of an issue once I got back on the horn.

If your camp is later this month you should be fine. I made the mistake of scheduling my surgery during Region Jazz Clinic since I made 2nd alternate. I figured that 2 t-bone players wouldn't get sick but there was a Whooping Cough (not sure on the spelling) epidemic in AR schools and 2 guys got sick and it was 3-4 days after the surgery so I couldn't go...lol I made up for it the next year by making the first band so I knew I was gonna go like 2 months in advance!

Normally, a week is a safe time period to lay off, but complications do happen. I had my surgery the second week of May, and was set to go to Brevard Music Center the third week of June. I didn't play my horn once before I showed up at BMF and my audition for seating sucked. I had a yellow bruise the covered practically my whole face and neck areas. After a week, the bleeding was still going on, so I went back and the DR. pulled out huge chips of teeth he missed. It was a miserable experience, and serves as an example that wisdom teeth surgery does not go smoothly all of the time. Also, much the same as not telling UPS that your package is fragile, consider not telling your surgeon you need you mouth for your career. When you arent looking, they kick the mutha across the room.

Be sure to tell your dentist you're a tuba player and what practicing entails. Since you're having all four extracted, I would guess he would suggest two weeks rest before getting back to buzzing -- but ask your dentist and follow his advice. If you start too soon, you could develop a 'dry socket'. My son had this complication last year and it took a couple of months for him to get over it... very painful.

The longer the better. My friend had his wisdom teeth pulled, but didn't wait to start playing again. He ended up busting his stitches twice, and almost got a dry socket. Better safe than sorry!

As stated, check with your dentist. When I had my wisdom teeth pulled, my dentist advised gargling with salty water. The formula was on table spoon (or so) in a cup of warm water. Check with your dentist to see if that might help the healing process. My first extraction happened in college while I was playing at Disney during seasonal hiring. I played the next day. I was young and stupid, but I gargled frequently during the day. I don't recommend it! I didn't get dry socket and was lucky.

I have had many students have extractions done. Each has had different responses, but a week seems to be a good general barometer. Good luck.

Paul Weikle

I just had both left wisdom teeth two days ago-no fun at all (the pills are fun however). I'll give myself a week or so before I play.

Good luck!

Share the information about your musical practice and performance with your doctor.

I had all 4 done at one time when I was in high school. The work was performed by an excellent old-school oral surgeon. I had it done under local anesthetic (lots of novacaine!!!) He showed me each tooth as he took them out to prove he got everything. I'm fascinated by that stuff anyway. One root cracked and he had that one out in very short order, then showed it to me. The root was still intact - a clean break, proving that "the count was right" and he got everything.

I played baritone at the time. Got the work done on a Wednesday or Thursday, I think, and was playing the next Monday.

To aid your healing process, try this after 24 hours or so. Disolve a teaspoon of table salt in a small cup of luke warm water, then Gently rinse your mouth with that saline solution. Do this a couple times a day. It will aid in the healing process (and freshen your mouth). Nothing like post oral surgery mouth !!! Ask your doctor about it, see what she or he says.

Good luck and a fast recovery!

Hey, Daniel------------glad to see you are still playing that Miraphone 188 you bought from me. It's a killer tuba. I remember how good you sounded on that horn when you came up to try it out. Also good to see that you are still in the program at California State University-Long Beach. Are you still in the concert band there? It's one of the best in the country, IMHO. I envy your proximity to all those great tuba players in the greater Los Angeles-Hollywood area.

Re your wisdom teeth, take it easy for at least a week or so. Good luck.

Ace

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I must have been very lucky...all 4 pulled with only a local (the same kind as pulling regular teeth). I was playing again in a few days.

That is NOT a recommendation for what you should do. Follow the instructions of your dentist or oral surgeon to the letter. Good luck, and try not to worry too much about it!

.

Ace wrote:Hey, Daniel------------glad to see you are still playing that Miraphone 188 you bought from me. It's a killer tuba. I remember how good you sounded on that horn when you came up to try it out. Also good to see that you are still in the program at California State University-Long Beach. Are you still in the concert band there? It's one of the best in the country, IMHO. I envy your proximity to all those great tuba players in the greater Los Angeles-Hollywood area.

Re your wisdom teeth, take it easy for at least a week or so. Good luck.

Ace

Hey! Yup, I am still playing on the Miraphone 188 that I bought from you! It has been great to me. I actually made the top band which is the wind symphony and I play in the orchestra! I also use it in our tuba quartet and on recordings that I sent in for summer camps.

And thank you to everyone else for your responses! I will definately wait a week before I put the horn to my face! I am a performance major so I want to make sure it is fully healed. I will also ask my dentist next Tuesday when I go in how long I should wait to see what he says.