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.