Abstract
The purpose of this study was to record and compare audiometric pure tone thresholds of dental clinicians (DCs), dental professionals (DPs), and dental students (DSs); determine the percentage of these groups who use hearing protection devices while at work in the clinic; and measure the sound intensities generated by a few representative highspeed handpieces while they are being used on patients. Participants included DCs who regularly used these handpieces (n = 16), DPs who did not use these handpieces (n = 13), and DSs (n = 8). A questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, assess occupational and recreational noise exposure, and note the level of hearing protection used. A sound level meter was used to measure the sound intensity generated by dental instruments near a clinician's ear. Results showed that DCs who regularly used high-speed handpieces had worse hearing than did members of the other study groups. These results indicate that the implementation of protective strategies should help to reduce the prevalence of occupational hearing loss among DCs.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 71-76 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | General Dentistry |
| Volume | 63 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - May 1 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Hearing protection
- Highspeed handpieces
- Noise-induced hearing loss
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dentistry(all)
Cite this
Hearing loss associated with long-term exposure to high-speed dental handpieces. / Theodoroff, Sarah; Folmer, Robert L.
In: General Dentistry, Vol. 63, No. 3, 01.05.2015, p. 71-76.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hearing loss associated with long-term exposure to high-speed dental handpieces
AU - Theodoroff, Sarah
AU - Folmer, Robert L.
PY - 2015/5/1
Y1 - 2015/5/1
N2 - The purpose of this study was to record and compare audiometric pure tone thresholds of dental clinicians (DCs), dental professionals (DPs), and dental students (DSs); determine the percentage of these groups who use hearing protection devices while at work in the clinic; and measure the sound intensities generated by a few representative highspeed handpieces while they are being used on patients. Participants included DCs who regularly used these handpieces (n = 16), DPs who did not use these handpieces (n = 13), and DSs (n = 8). A questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, assess occupational and recreational noise exposure, and note the level of hearing protection used. A sound level meter was used to measure the sound intensity generated by dental instruments near a clinician's ear. Results showed that DCs who regularly used high-speed handpieces had worse hearing than did members of the other study groups. These results indicate that the implementation of protective strategies should help to reduce the prevalence of occupational hearing loss among DCs.
AB - The purpose of this study was to record and compare audiometric pure tone thresholds of dental clinicians (DCs), dental professionals (DPs), and dental students (DSs); determine the percentage of these groups who use hearing protection devices while at work in the clinic; and measure the sound intensities generated by a few representative highspeed handpieces while they are being used on patients. Participants included DCs who regularly used these handpieces (n = 16), DPs who did not use these handpieces (n = 13), and DSs (n = 8). A questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, assess occupational and recreational noise exposure, and note the level of hearing protection used. A sound level meter was used to measure the sound intensity generated by dental instruments near a clinician's ear. Results showed that DCs who regularly used high-speed handpieces had worse hearing than did members of the other study groups. These results indicate that the implementation of protective strategies should help to reduce the prevalence of occupational hearing loss among DCs.
KW - Hearing protection
KW - Highspeed handpieces
KW - Noise-induced hearing loss
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84942318921&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84942318921&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 63
SP - 71
EP - 76
JO - General Dentistry
JF - General Dentistry
SN - 0363-6771
IS - 3
ER -