Systematic review of hearing loss in dental professionals

Abstract

Background Hearing loss leads to increased irritability and disengagement in social activities and conversations, which may impact quality of life. Dental professionals are at risk of developing hearing loss through daily exposure to noise from a wide range of equipment that produces significantly high decibels and noise frequencies. Aims The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the risk of hearing loss in dental professionals, including dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists and dental assistants. Methods This review was conducted following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, Science Direct, Google Scholar and ProQuest were searched up to March 2023. Seventeen of 416 studies met the inclusion criteria. Quality assessment was performed according to the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for cohort and case–control studies, and a modified version of this tool for cross-sectional studies. Results The majority of included studies (82%) found a positive association with hearing loss for dentists and dental specialists, with years of clinical experience identified as a prominent risk factor. Dental hygienists and dental assistants were less commonly reported in the literature. Difference between the left and right ears was found in 71% of studies, with the left ear more affected in both dentists and dental assistants due to proximity to the noise-inducing equipment. Conclusions Dental professionals are at risk of hearing loss in their workplace, especially linked to years of clinical experience, which highlights the need for prevention and appropriate ear-protective devices.

Patients’ Perceptions of Sound and Noise Dimensions in the Dental Clinic Soundscape

“…In this study, there are connections between demographic/psychographic factors and noise sensitivity/disturbance, adding to research on age, gender, education, health, and perceptual experiences in healthcare [1,[3][4][5][49][50][51][52]. Females dominate our sample, and this is consistent with studies showing gender-specific links to noise sensitivity and health [1,3,49,50].…”

“…The present study provides a comprehensive overview of dental patients' estimations of noise levels and sound disturbances in private and public dental clinics. The importance of controlling noise in healthcare settings, particularly within dental clinics, has already been discussed in relevant studies [1,5,8,[40][41][42]. In the study we conducted in 2023, where we measured the noise levels using digital sound level meters and noise-integrating dosimeters equipped with analog electronic transducers, data were collected from specific postgraduate and undergraduate clinics and laboratories during peak operational hours.…”

“…Sound in the dental office originates from both dental and non-dental sources. The first group includes noises generated by dental equipment [5], which can be reduced by taking appropriate measures. The second group incorporates sounds from within the dental clinic, including interactions between staff and patients, the operation of computers and printers, background music, and television, as well as external sources like traffic and ongoing roadwork sounds [6,7].…”

“…The second group incorporates sounds from within the dental clinic, including interactions between staff and patients, the operation of computers and printers, background music, and television, as well as external sources like traffic and ongoing roadwork sounds [6,7]. According to the National Research and Safety Institute, new dental equipment typically generates noise levels that remain below 85 dB(A) [8], while sound emitted overall within a dental facility falls overall below 80 dB(A), thus falling within the acceptable thresholds established by the World Health Organization [5,8]. If these limits are exceeded, or the noise is present for a long time during a patient's stay in the dental office, then the sound has a negative effect on the patient's psychology [6].…”

“…(4) How do disturbances and feelings of anxiety due to noise in the environment of the dental clinic relate to music and noise preferences? (5) What are the significant predictors of disturbances and feelings of anxiety due to noise in the environment of the dental clinic?…”