The Overlooked Risk of Hearing Loss in Dental Practice

Dental professionals face a variety of occupational health challenges, including hearing loss. Hearing is a critical activity of daily living and its loss presents a variety of hardships from communication problems to safety concerns.

Dental professionals are exposed to noise associated with their specific work environments. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has identified work-related hearing damage as a key research priority in the dental field, along with other occupational risks.¹

Implementing measures, such as engineering and administrative controls, regular audiometric testing, and the consistent use of hearing protection devices, may assist in preventing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Hearing damage can be permanent and irreversible, but early detection and intervention, as well as education regarding work-related risks, are essential to minimize further damage.^2–4

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* References and figures can be found in the original article via the link above.