#0017 Assessment of occupational noise‐related hearing impairment among dental health personnel
Dental Practitioners Are at a Risk for Work-Related Hearing Damage
Professionals working in the field of dentistry are prone to various occupational hazards, especially hearing damage due to various medical devices and laboratory machines used in dental practice. Regular, long-term exposure to the noise generated by these machines can cause problems in the functioning of the ear, leading to hearing impairments. To prevent this threat, it is important to assess the effect of these machines on various groups of dental professionals.
To this end, we conducted a study to assess the effects of the noise emitted by the dental instruments. We conducted hearing tests on a total of 244 male and female participants working in different roles in dentistry. Through a questionnaire-based survey, we also collected their personal and health-related data, in addition to their professional information such as years of experience and estimated number of hours per day that they are exposed to noise-producing machines. We compared the result of the assessment of the participants with a control group of dental students who were less exposed to such noise.
Our study showed that, in comparison to the control group, dental professionals suffered from greater hearing damage, with the most severe damage seen in dental technicians and assistants. We found that the extent of damage was positively associated with age as well as the daily duration of exposure to the noise. Interestingly the study suggested that for dental assistants, the hearing condition of the left ears were generally more affected than the right ears. This can be attributed to the fact that while working in a dental unit, assistants usually have the noise sources on their left side.
Thus, our findings shed light on the importance of taking precautionary measures in dental clinics, in order to protect dental workers from noise-related hearing loss. We also conclude that periodic hearing tests should be performed among dental professionals, and noise-producing devices should undergo regular maintenance to assess their damaging potential.
Link to the original journal article:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/1348-9585.12093
Title of the paper:
Assessment of occupational noise‐related hearing impairment among dental health personnel
Authors:
Salah A. Al‐Omoush, Khader J. Abdul‐Baqi, Margaret Zuriekat, Firas Alsoleihat, Wijdan R. Elmanaseer, Kifah D. Jamani
