PP707 - Prevalence of Noise-Related Health Risks in Dental Professionals

Abstract:
Hazardous noise exposure is a major health concern in many workplaces, particularly for dental professionals who face high levels of occupational noise daily. Prolonged exposure to noise from dental instruments can negatively impact hearing health. To assess the prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus, dental professionals were recruited for a comprehensive audiological evaluations. Results indicated that dental professionals had elevated hearing thresholds compared to age- and sex-matched normative ranges, along with perceived tinnitus. This study highlights the need for effective intervention and education on noise-related health risks in dentistry.

Summary:
Rationale/Purpose
Dental professionals are frequently exposed to high levels of occupational noise in their daily work environment. This noise is generated by various dental handpieces such as drills, suctions, and ultrasonic scalers. Prolonged exposure to such noise levels is known to have adverse effects on hearing health. Despite the prevalence of occupational noise in dentistry, there is a paucity of comprehensive research specifically examining the prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus in dental professionals The present study aimed to evaluate hearing loss and tinnitus as potential risk factors in dental professionals.

Methods
To evaluate the prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus, data were collected from 60 dental professionals (30 males and 30 females) including participant demographics and audiometric thresholds. Basic demographic information included gender, age, years of experience and dental specialty was collected from all participants. Hearing evaluations included both standard (250-8000 Hz) and extended high frequency (9000-16000 Hz) pure tone testing. Each participant’s thresholds were compared to the 95th percentile age- and sex-based reference ranges from the International Standards Organization (ISO 7029:2017) cohort of otologically normal persons for each frequency. Descriptive statistics were used to examine prevalence of tinnitus and determine hearing thresholds that exceeded both the clinical norms and the age- and sex-based reference ranges from the ISO 7029:2017. Student’s t-test was performed to compare group means for male and female four-frequency pure tone average (4F-PTA). Two-way ANOVA was performed to examine interactions between hearing thresholds at various frequencies versus lateralization (i.e., left or right ear) or sex. A z-test was used to compare the proportions of males and females who have clinically defined hearing loss.

Results & Conclusions
The findings of this study reveal a significant sex difference in hearing loss among dental professionals, with males exhibiting a higher prevalence of hearing loss compared to females. The trend of more hearing loss in males as compared to females persisted when examining percentage of thresholds that exceed the 95th percentile age- and sex-based reference ranges. The evaluation of hearing loss and tinnitus among dental professionals in this study reveals a significant occupational health issue. This study is the first to offer a comprehensive examination of the characteristics and prevalence of auditory dysfunctions in dental professionals compared to the ISO normative age and sex distributions of hearing status. Findings warrant effective intervention and prevention strategies to mitigate noise-related health risks in dental professionals. By addressing these risks, we can enhance the well-being and professional longevity of dental professionals. Overall, it is important for dental professionals to be educated on their occupational hazards and seek assistance from their audiology colleagues when necessary.

Brief Summary of Clinical Takeaways:
The clinical takeaway for this session is the need for increased awareness and education on the importance of noise-related health risks to empower dental professionals to take proactive measures to preserve their hearing health.

Assumptions
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