Orthodontic problems among string and wind instrument players.

BACKGROUND

Specific occlusion problems are caused by playing with wind and string musical instruments for a long time. The aim of the work was to establish the orthodontic problems among piano, string and wind instrument players.

METHODS

The sample of the research included 167 students of musical education institutions in Lithuania. Participants were divided into three groups: 52 string (violin and viola) students, 46 wind students and 69 piano students as a control group. They were investigated clinically according to the ICON index. The facial profile was estimated and a questionnaire was given.

RESULTS

More than half of the participants had a convex facial profile, 37.7% - straight and only 4.2% - concave. In total 35.3% of participants and even 61.5% of string students had a crossbite. 1/3-2/3 overlap of the incisors was more frequent in wind instrument players group than in other groups. The average of all participants' ICON index reached 28.79±15.01 scores: higher values were estimated for violinists and males. Students with crossbite played more hours than without crossbite. A cusp-to-cusp molar relationship (4034.7 hours) was observed in players who played more hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Playing the violin might predispose crossbite and playing wind instruments - deep bite.