Key messages:
- Exposure to noise above 85 decibels for over eight hours a day may lead to noise-induced hearing loss.
- Oral health professionals are at risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss from frequent exposure to equipment that produces significantly high decibels and frequencies of noise.
- A positive association between noise and hearing loss was found among oral health professionals, with the left ear more affected due to noise-inducing equipment proximity.
- These findings highlight the need for prevention and appropriate protective devices to mitigate the risk of noise-induced hearing loss in oral health professionals.
Introduction
Noise level is measured in decibels (dB), with a specific adaptation for human hearing described in decibels A (dBA). Prolonged or repeated exposure to noise exceeding 85 dBA can lead to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Hearing loss may lead to increased irritability and disengagement from social activities and conversations, affecting quality of life. NIHL may lead to a higher risk of sleep disorders, headaches, heart disease, and tinnitus. Tinnitus is the perception of constant or intermittent ringing, hissing, or sizzling sounds without an external source. Persistent tinnitus may become chronic, requiring therapy, medication, or hearing aids.
Oral health professionals are at risk of developing NIHL from exposure to various equipment that produces significantly high dB and noise frequencies, including high-volume excavators, air turbine handpieces, ultrasonic scalers, amalgamators, and sterilization equipment. Sound levels of this equipment, often used in combination, were found to vary between 52-99 dBA, with ultrasonic scalers exceeding 85 dBA.
Objective
This systematic review investigated the risk of hearing loss in oral health professionals.
Methods
PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and ProQuest were searched up to March 2023. Seventeen of 416 studies met the inclusion criteria.
Results
Eighty-two percent of the studies included in the review found a positive association with hearing loss for dentists and dental specialists. Years of clinical experience were a significant risk factor for hearing loss. Dental hygienists and dental assistants were less frequently reported in the literature. Additionally, 71% of studies observed a difference between the left and right ears, with dentists and dental assistants experiencing more hearing loss in the left ear due to their proximity to noise-inducing equipment.
Conclusions
Oral health professionals are at risk of hearing loss, especially with increased years of clinical experience, underscoring the need for prevention and appropriate ear-protective devices to mitigate the implications of NIHL in oral healthcare. Digital noise-reducing headphones that remove environmental noise but allow the passage of the human voice should be considered for the oral health environment.
