Oral-facial impacts associated with the use of musical instruments

The increasing use of musical instruments since childhood, can lead to clinical conditions for which medical professionals oral health should pay particular attention in order to prevent and minimize consequences of such use. The development of pathology associated with the use of musical instruments can provide temporary or permanent limitations, justifying the importance of including valid form of the condition of the oral structures in the activities of occupational health. Aim of this review paper is intended to address generally, the characteristics of musical instruments that can affect the oral or perioral structures and their clinical manifestations. The authors conducted a literature review using the Medline, Scielo, Embase and SciVers, as well as the manual search in university libraries and in music schools in Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom. Also adopted an active research based on the references used in the various publications found. (C) 2011 Sociedade Portuguesa de Estomatologia e Medicina Dentaria. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.