Craniofacial morphology of wind and string instrument players: a cephalometric study

BACKGROUND: Playing an instrument may promote a parafunctional behavior within the cranio-cervical-mandibular-complex with unknown repercussions. The aim of this study was to find any association between the dental inter-arch relationship and the practice of a wind or string instrument. METHODS: A sample of 77 musicians, divided in two groups of wind (n = 50) and string instrumentalists (n = 27), had a lateral cephalogram taken to compare six cephalometric parameters following the Rickett’s analysis (maxilla position, mandible position, facial type, skeletal class, upper incisor and lower incisor inclination). The Fisher test was performed to compare, with a 95% statistical confidence, if both groups have similar frequency distributions for each cephalometric parameter. RESULTS: No statistical differences were found for the maxilla position, mandible position, facial type, skeletal class and upper incisor inclination. Statistical differences were found for the lower incisor inclination (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Playing a wind instrument showed to have little orthopaedic influence at the craniofacial morphology, on contrary it may influence the lower incisor inclination with its osseous base.