Dental Work and the Voice

Subject: Dental Work and the Voice
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 02:33 PM

I've just come back from my 4th trip to either the dentist or the endodontist within the month (the 3rd in 2 weeks)... and I have at least 2 more to go! 2 fillings, a crown and a root canal. Lots of Novocaine, and some nitrous oxide "happy gas" during the root canal. One of the two upcoming visits is for Part 2 of the root canal, so I'll be getting gassed again.

I've noticed that my singing voice is really "off" lately, and I'm wondering if the gas and/or the Novocaine is responsible for that. Or is it a result of all that hacking and spitting of chunks of old filling and old tooth?

Is there anything I can do for my voice during this time, or should I just sing less (or refrain from singing altogether) for a while? Any voice-advice appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Sharon

Subject: RE: Dental Work and the Voice
From: MMario
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 02:39 PM

Sharon - I've never noticed any changes in my actual voice due to novacaine - but my diction suffers for about 48 hours.

Subject: RE: Dental Work and the Voice
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 02:51 PM

MMario: Actually, my diction seems to be "off" too, and for much longer than 48 hours. Maybe I'm over-exercising those "open-mouth" muscles! Seriously, I'm finding that I have to re-learn how to pronounce the letter "s".

Subject: RE: Dental Work and the Voice
From: MMario
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 02:59 PM

I'm trying to remmember if I had any similair problems when I had my crown/root canal. Of course by the time they got done with the root canal I was pretty hoarse anyway - (they refused to put me out - and it turned out that particular tooth had an extra root - which wasn't anesthetized )

Subject: RE: Dental Work and the Voice
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 03:27 PM

Sharon - your problem with the S's reminds me of the old saying "Couldn't say 'Shit' if she had a mouth full of it!" :~)