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KMID : 1024820130010010061
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Journal of Korean Academy of Dental Administration
2013 Volume.1 No. 1 p.61 ~ p.76
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Effects of Dental Treatment Noise on the Hearing of Dental Hygienists
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Kim Kyung-Ock
Kim Hye-Ok
Park So-Hae
Han Yeon-Hee
Um Lee-Seul
Lee Sun-Mi
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Abstract
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The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of dental treatment noise on dental hygienists in dental hospitals and clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in an effort to provide some information on the prevention and countermeasure of noise deafness. A self-administered survey was conducted from June 20 to August 31, 2011, and the answer sheets from 251 respondents were analyzed. As for data analysis, the statistical package SPSS 17.0 was employed. The findings of the study were as follows:
As for the structure of dental parlor and the location of compressor, the dental hygienists who replied that the dental parlor was isolated outnumbered the others who didn"t. The most common number of dental parlor chairs was five or six, and there were differences in the number of chairs according to the type of dental institutions. The most dominant number of compressors was two, and the compressors were mostly installed in the inside of the dental hospitals and clinics, being adjacent to the dental parlors.
Concerning the type of noise from the dental hospitals and clinics, they gave the highest marks to the noise of suction(3.69), followed by scaling(3.67), enamel ablation(3.50), compressors(3.25), temporary crown (2.61), waiting room TV or radio(2.37) and trimming(2.34).
As to 11 subjective symptom items of noise deafness caused by noise from the dental hospitals and clinics, they gave the highest marks to two items: "I have difficulties in listening to others because of surrounding noise(3.25)," and "I have ever felt that I cannot hear well though I hadn"t felt so before working as a dental hygienist(3.13)." They gave similar marks to all the other items.
Regarding the relationship of the general characteristics and working characteristics of the respondents to subjective symptoms, there were significant differences only according to age. As for the relationship of the structure of the dental parlors and the location of the compressors to subjective symptoms, all the items except the number of the compressors made statistically significant differences to subjective symptoms: whether the dental parlors were isolated or not, the number of chairs, the location of the compressors, and whether the compressors that were installed inside were close to the dental parlors.
The findings of the study on the general characteristics and working characteristics of the dental hygienists, the type of noise and their subjective symptoms related to noise imply that dental hygienists are likely to suffer from noise deafness. In order to prevent it, the way that dental hygienists think and behave should be changed, and the change of their working environments is required above all.
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KEYWORD
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Noise-induced hearing loss, Dental hygienist, Dental noise
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