Coles RRA; Hoare NW (1985) Noise-induced hearing loss and the dentist.    Br Dent J 159:209-218.

ABSTRACT

After a review of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) generally, and of potential noise hazards in the dental surgery, acoustic data from 35 dental surgeries in Nottingham and subjective histories from 35 dentists are analysed in relation to potential damage risk criteria and to National Study of Hearing control data respectively. It is concluded that the present auditory hazard is very slight indeed. Preventive measures for those still requiring them are recommended. Two case histories illustrate that by far the major risk is of mismanagement when dental NIHL is allowed to enter the differential diagnosis of hearing impairments in dentists.