Wind Instrument Performance and Oral Health: A Performing Arts Medicine Perspective

Wind instrument performance requires complex coordination of oral structures and significantly impacts oral health.This narrative review examines the relationship between wind instrument performance and oral health through the lens of performing arts medicine, focusing on three critical aspects: dental and craniofacial changes, temporomandibular disorders, and embouchure-related neuromuscular conditions.First, the influence of wind instrument performance on dental position and craniofacial morphology is analyzed, examining how different embouchure types affect oral structures.Second, the relationship between performance and musculoskeletal disorders, particularly temporomandibular dysfunction, is explored with emphasis on biomechanical demands.Third, the development and progression of embouchure-related disorders, especially embouchure dystonia, is investigated from a neuromuscular perspective.Current evidence suggests that while wind instrument playing generates significant forces on oral structures, its effects vary based on instrument type, playing technique, and individual factors.This review provides clinically relevant insights for dental practitioners in performing arts medicine, highlighting the need for specialized approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of oral health issues in wind musicians.