Original scientific paper

Noise Levels in a Pedodontic Dental Practice

Ivana Čuković-Bagić
Hrvoje Domitrović
Željko Verzak

Abstract

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 SONICfl ex). 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 artifi cial head. The equivalent level of background noise with a correction fi lter A (LAeq) was LAeq = 54.4 dB (decibel). The noise level in the left ear of the artifi cial head was 53 dB and in the right ear 55 dB. The noise made by a turbine was LAeq = 81 dB, by the micromotor with water LAeq = 75 dB, by the micromotor without water LAeq = 72.5 dB, by the air syringe LAeq = 81.5 dB and by SONICfl ex LAeq = 76 dB. The level of noise the dentist was exposed to was LAeq = 72.1 dB. It can be concluded that the equivalent level was above LAeq = 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.

Keywords

noise; acoustic trauma; pediatric dentistry; dentist’s practice patterns

Hrčak ID:

11614

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/11614

Publication date:

1.9.2006.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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