Noise Levels in a Pedodontic Dental Practice

The aim of this paper was to measure the level of noise in the pedodontic practice, which hasn't been acoustically treated, and to interview the dentists in order to determine their exposure to undesired noise of dental equipment during daily work. The measurement of noise was conducted at the Department of Pedodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, using the most frequently used handpieces (turbine, micromotor with and without water, air syringe and SONICflex). A standardised method of noise measurement was applied, by means of a single-channel sound level meter; and a new dual-channel method, by means of an artificial head. The equivalent level of background noise with a correction filter A (L-Aeq) was L-Aeq = 54.4 dB (decibel). The noise level in the left ear of the artificial head was 53 dB and in the right ear 55 dB. The noise made by a turbine was L-Aeq = 81 dB, by the micromotor with water L-Aeq = 75 dB, by the micromotor without water L-Aeq = 72.5 dB, by the air syringe L-Aeq = 81.5 dB and by SONICflex L-Aeq = 76 dB. The level of noise the dentist was exposed to was L-Aeq = 72.1 dB. It can be concluded that the equivalent level was above L-Aeq = 70 dB, which is the limit prescribed by the Safety at Work Regulations. Since it is not only the therapist that is exposed to noise, but also the pedodontic patient, it would be advisable to treat the room acoustically in order to reduce undesired consequences of the noise, such as the patient's fear, stress and anxiety.