Temporary auditory threshold shift following sophomore operative technique laboratory

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Dental Education
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Noise exposure in dental settings can impact hearing.
• High-speed dental handpieces generate significant noise levels.
• Understanding the effects of this noise on dental students is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate temporary threshold shift (TTS) in dental students exposed to high-speed handpiece noise.
• To determine the impact of noise exposure on hearing acuity at different frequencies.
• To assess the duration of hearing changes post-exposure.

Main Methods:

• Twenty sophomore dental students were monitored.
• Exposure to high-speed dental handpiece noise during technique laboratory sessions.
• Hearing threshold measurements were taken at 8000, 6000, 4000, and 3000 Hz.

Main Results:

• Temporary threshold shift (TTS) was observed at all tested frequencies.
• TTS was greater and lasted longer at higher frequencies (8000 Hz and 6000 Hz).
• Approximately 25% of students exhibited residual hearing loss 15 minutes after exposure.

Conclusions:

• High-speed dental handpiece noise can cause temporary hearing loss in dental students.
• Higher frequencies pose a greater risk for temporary hearing impairment.
• Hearing protection should be considered for dental students during noise-intensive procedures.