My 14 yo son has a huge space between his front teeth. This results in either too much pressure (so he can't play high), and/or a buzzy tone (because he's playing between the teeth). He's been playing for 5 years and is a fairly advanced reader, and the range/tone issues are really starting to catch up with him. He's also been through a couple of teachers who either didn't want to work on the embouchure, or didn't really know what to do.
We started him on trombone to see if we could help relieve the pressure a bit and it did seem to help a bit. That was on a suggestion from his director, who plays baritone - and yes, he's still playing trumpet. However, the pressure is still there. It's also helped with his reading bass clef for his piano, lol....
He's with a teacher right now who we think is on the right track - and in fact, he just changed his mouthpiece from a 5C to a 1-1/2C, which seems to be working. But they all say it will take a year or so to change his embouchure. We questioned the teachers about braces and none of them want to commit (the insurance pays for them, so for us it's not a cost issue) - the one he's with now says he knows guys who have had spaces actually put IN their teeth so they could play higher! He is getting better range with the 1-1/2 - I am not sure why, I thought you used a smaller piece to play higher, but what do I know, I play woodwinds....
I don't know. When the teacher used a visualizer with him, he had an instant good buzz and embouchure on the trombone side, and got nothing immediately on the trumpet size (he had to work at it). Would it be worth it to get the braces to close the space a bit if not entirely? That would get rid of the pressure, for sure.... He does not particularly care for trombone and wants to play trumpet. But he said to me the other week that he "didn't know it would have to play so high"....LOL.....what can I say, he listens to a bunch of old jazzers who don't go above a G.....
Thanks for any suggestions!