Measuring Noise Levels in Dental Clinics

Autori

  • Nebal Thabit Shaker College of Dentistry, University of Mustansiriyah.
  • Husam Mejbel Khalaf
  • Nagham Bahjat Kamel

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/d3000.2026.1320

Parole chiave:

Hearing Loss, Pollution, Work Safety

Abstract

Compared to other educational environment, the acoustic environment in the dental practical classes has been characterized by high dental noise levels. The presented study aims to quantify noise levels generated by the dental equipment under working settings throughout various dental clinics. A sound level meter with a microphone has been used for measuring the noise levels. The meter was positioned in the clinic at a 15cm distance from operator's ear, at the chair side instrument tray to increase noise levels that would reach a person standing close, and in the middle of the learning area. For stimulating the operator's auditory position in laboratories, a microphone was positioned 15cm from the technician's ear, and a second reading was acquired from a 2 m distance. When trimming acrylic, the acrylic trimmer (85.4 decibel (dB) at a 15cm distance) was the noisiest piece of equipment measured in this investigation. When drilling teeth in dental clinics, the turbine in the middle of the learning area made the most noise (79.1 dB). The dental equipment’s noise levels throughout cutting activities have been quite different from those during non-cutting activities. The study's noise levels were deemed to be somewhat close to the 85 dB threshold, which is the limit of hearing loss risk.

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Pubblicato

2026-06-02

Fascicolo

V. 14 N. 1 (2026)

Sezione

Adults & the Elderly

Licenza

Copyright (c) 2026 Nebal Thabit Shaker, Husam Mejbel Khalaf, Nagham Bahjat Kamel

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