Prevalence of Orofacial Changes in Wind Instrumentalists: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study in Brazil

The aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence of orofacial changes and factors associated with the frequent playing of wind instruments by musicians in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 40 professional musicians who played wind instruments. The musicians filled out questionnaires about their habits and musical career. The Research Diagnostic Criteria were applied to investigate temporomandibular disorders. Other oral parameters examined included periodontal status, plaque index, and decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMF) index. A significance level of p<0.05 was adopted for statistical analysis.

The population included 22 (55%) men and 18 (45%) women, with a mean age of 25.88 yrs. The most common instruments played were the saxophone (n=12, 30%), clarinet (n=9, 22.5%), and flute (n=6, 15%). The most frequent pain complaint after playing was numbness in the upper lip or no sensation (25% of musicians), and the most frequent dental change observed was inclination of the upper teeth (15% of musicians). There was no significant association between dental changes, pain, and classification of instrument type.

The main oral change that affected musicians who played wind instruments was the inclination of anterior teeth.