Musicians and dentistry

[Ablecablestable]

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I am an avid guitarist and pianist. I am also thinking of becoming a dentist.

I understand that there is potential for developing carpal tunnel syndrome as a dentist? How high is this risk and would it affect my ability to play music when I'm 60?

Any dentists who are also musicians who could shed some light on this? Or anyone who has developed carpal tunnel?

 

[The Hammer]

I am an avid guitarist and pianist. I am also thinking of becoming a dentist.

I understand that there is potential for developing carpal tunnel syndrome as a dentist? How high is this risk and would it affect my ability to play music when I'm 60?

Any dentists who are also musicians who could shed some light on this? Or anyone who has developed carpal tunnel?

I've played guitar and bass for 27 years and been practicing dentistry for 17 years. I've never had any problems with CT nor have any of my dental/musician friends. In fact I've had more problems from wearing a heavy bass than I have from dentistry👍

 

[cjw7475]

I've played guitar and bass for 27 years and been practicing dentistry for 17 years. I've never had any problems with CT nor have any of my dental/musician friends. In fact I've had more problems from wearing a heavy bass than I have from dentistry👍

I sure can empathize your problem (played bass for 8 years)

 

[Dr Smee]

I've played guitar and bass for 27 years and been practicing dentistry for 17 years. I've never had any problems with CT nor have any of my dental/musician friends. In fact I've had more problems from wearing a heavy bass than I have from dentistry👍

But you're Pre-Dental? 😕

 

[The Hammer]

But you're Pre-Dental? 😕

yeah thats just my little joke to amuse myself😎

 

[Dr Smee]

yeah thats just my little joke to amuse myself😎

👍

 

[Pedosmakebank]

I've played guitar and bass for 27 years and been practicing dentistry for 17 years. I've never had any problems with CT nor have any of my dental/musician friends. In fact I've had more problems from wearing a heavy bass than I have from dentistry👍

I agree with old balls here 😀 (sorry, just had to say it)

I play a mad violin and if anything its helped my dexterity. I like to think of myself as the next Shoji Tabuchi.
I haven't had any problems from playing either. So keep rockin' that guitar my brother!

 

[Pedosmakebank]

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

Hey, will growing out shaped nails for classical guitar be detrimental to doing dentistry?

 

[SeattleRDH]

As a classically trained percussionist and pianist (20+ years), my carpal tunnel risk has proven to be lower than other hygienists that I know (and hygienists have a much higher carpal tunnel injury rate than dentists). I believe this is due to having more developed manual dexterity skills.

 

[SeattleRDH]

Hey, will growing out shaped nails for classical guitar be detrimental to doing dentistry?

If that includes your ring finger on your right hand then yes.

 

[aphistis]

Hey, will growing out shaped nails for classical guitar be detrimental to doing dentistry?

I know personally someone who excelled in dental school, completed OMFS residency at one of the most highly respected programs in the country, did a head & neck cancer fellowship, and is now an attending at a similarly reputable OMFS program, all after majoring in classical guitar performance in college. (And your mother told you a music degree would never get you a job.)

 

[SeattleRDH]

I know personally someone who excelled in dental school, completed OMFS residency at one of the most highly respected programs in the country, did a head & neck cancer fellowship, and is now an attending at a similarly reputable OMFS program, all after majoring in classical guitar performance in college. (And your mother told you a music degree would never get you a job.)

yeah, but I bet he had to clip his nails

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

Yeah, but my nails only protrude 2-3mm max from the edge of the fingertips.

 

[The Hammer]

I agree with old balls here 😀 (sorry, just had to say it)

I play a mad violin and if anything its helped my dexterity. I like to think of myself as the next Shoji Tabuchi.
I haven't had any problems from playing either. So keep rockin' that guitar my brother!

Thats DR.Old Balls to you punk!😡
😀

 

[UBDent19]

I know personally someone who excelled in dental school, completed OMFS residency at one of the most highly respected programs in the country, did a head & neck cancer fellowship, and is now an attending at a similarly reputable OMFS program, all after majoring in classical guitar performance in college. (And your mother told you a music degree would never get you a job.)

If he'd be willing, I'd love to get his email and ask him some questions. I'm pre-dental and majored in classical guitar.

Thanks!

 

[The Hammer]

Here a just a few reasons that I love being a dentist

 

[The Hammer]

I play a mad violin and if anything its helped my dexterity. I like to think of myself as the next Shoji Tabuchi.

😀

 

[aphistis]

😀

That's one wicked-looking axe, man. 😉

 

[Pedosmakebank]

😀

Nice! I'd probably ditch the leopard print scarf though... Just sayin....

 

[Edentulator]

I'm a classical pianist and I dabble in some of the string instruments. If anything I find that my technical training has helped strengthen my wrist and finger muscles and has improved my dexterity and sense of fine movement. I would think I'm less prone to repetitive stress injuries because of the conditioning, and also because I'm very conscious of maintaining proper form that won't lead to injury.

And as for fingernails...I usually keep mine short-ish because otherwise they get stuck between the piano keys and don't work for violin, but having them longer on occasion hasn't been a problem for dentistry. Long nails were most annoying when I had to do lab stuff like separating and trimming casts...But mainly because it felt like nails on a chalkboard and the plaster made them dry and brittle.

 

[aphistis]

I'm a classical pianist and I dabble in some of the string instruments. If anything I find that my technical training has helped strengthen my wrist and finger muscles and has improved my dexterity and sense of fine movement. I would think I'm less prone to repetitive stress injuries because of the conditioning, and also because I'm very conscious of maintaining proper form that won't lead to injury.

And as for fingernails...I usually keep mine short-ish because otherwise they get stuck between the piano keys and don't work for violin, but having them longer on occasion hasn't been a problem for dentistry. Long nails were most annoying when I had to do lab stuff like separating and trimming casts...But mainly because it felt like nails on a chalkboard and the plaster made them dry and brittle.

Classical pianist...tee-hee. 😛

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

What about boxing? Will that be bad?

 

[DrDientes]

Man us Drummers are not as finely tuned with our hands as guitarist, but at least we get to go crazy in the back and hit cymbals and drums as hard as we want!

 

[aphistis]

Man us Drummers are not as finely tuned with our hands as guitarist, but at least we get to go crazy in the back and hit cymbals and drums as hard as we want!

I'm not sure that's a mental image you really want to encourage your patients to dwell on.

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

I'm not sure that's a mental image you really want to encourage your patients to dwell on.

lol. true in so many ways...

 

[dmitriyivanov]

My friend is an amazing musician who can play 10 different instrument (including guitar and piano) and he is also and amazing dentist!