• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.201-208
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate hypoacusis due to workplace noise among dental technicians. Pure tone audiometry, impedance audiometry and heart rate variability were measured for 60 dental technicians and office workers in D city from July to November 2013, and a survey on the effects of noise was conducted. SPSS 19.0 was used for statistical analysis. In the result for threshold of pure tone audiometry, the average hearing threshold of left ears in the air conduction (AC) test showed a statistically significant decrease (P=0.019) among dental technicians, who are frequently exposed to workplace noise. The hearing threshold in the AC test for each frequency was significantly different between the two groups at 125 Hz (P=0.012) in right ears and at 1 kHz (P=0.022), 2 kHz (P=0.040), and 8 kHz (P=0.018) in left ears. Dental technicians who had worked for 16 years or longer had a significantly higher incidence of hypoacusis in the right ear (P=0.030) and in the left ear (P=0.010). In impedance audiometry showed a tympanometry result of type A in both the dental technician group and the office worker group.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.269-282
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• 2023

Purpose: Dental fear hinders patients from receiving appropriate dental treatment. In particular, the noise generated by high-speed air turbines and ultrasonic scalers can adversely affect patients. Many efforts have been made to reduce the discomfort caused by noise, but no methods are definitively recommended. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones in reducing the pain and discomfort associated with dental scaling. Methods: Fifty-five patients requiring scaling and root planing, aged ≥19 years and showing no auditory problems, were included. Scaling was performed for the bilateral maxillary molars and premolars while patients wore headphones, with ANC turned either on or off. The degree of noise and pain reduction in the on and off conditions were surveyed using a visual analog scale (VAS). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to compare noise-and pain-related discomfort with ANC turned on and off. Results: The sample included 28 men and 27 women with a mean age of 45.45±13.12 years. The average noise-related discomfort score was 3.84±2.12 and 2.95±1.99 when noise-canceling was turned off and on, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Similarly, the average pain-related discomfort score was 3.78h±2.00 and 3.09±1.96 when noise-canceling was turned off and on, respectively, which was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusions: The use of ANC headphones seems to reduce the discomfort caused by noise and pain in patients undergoing scaling.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.267-272
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• 2012

Dental professionals are exposed to various occupational risks, among which the problem of hearing damage has been newly revealed. There have been some researches reporting that noise occurring in a dental office exceeds the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) Standards. Especially, the pediatric dentists are repeatedly exposed to an additional noise source called the crying sound of children in addition to all kinds of noises from dental instruments. Accordingly, this study intended to investigate the noise environment likely to affect pediatric dentists and to examine the possibility of resultant hearing damages. The level of noise was measured respectively, when various dental instruments (ultrasonic scaler, high-speed handpiece, low-speed handpiece) are operated, when children are crying, and when both occasions take place simultaneously (from the distance of 30 cm) with a portable noise meter. And the daily duration of pediatric dentists exposed to the noise environment was surveyed. The results were compared with the standard value of noise threshold of NIOSH, OSHA, and that of hearing damage of CRA News letter respectively. Considering the intensity and exposure time, the noise environment of pediatric dentists exceeds the allowable noise threshold values. Even only one exposure to crying child was likely to lead to permanent hearing damage. Comparatively, pediatric dentists have a higher risk for occupational hearing damages, and some active measures are thought highly desirable to minimize it.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate image artifacts in the vicinity of dental implants in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans obtained with different spatial orientations, tube current levels, and metal artifact reduction algorithm (MAR) conditions. Materials and Methods: One dental implant and 2 tubes filled with a radiopaque solution were placed in the posterior region of a mandible using a surgical guide to ensure parallel alignment. CBCT scans were acquired with the mandible in 2 spatial orientations in relation to the X-ray projection plane (standard and modified) at 3 tube current levels: 5, 8, and 11 mA. CBCT scans were repeated without the implant and were reconstructed with and without MAR. The mean voxel and noise values of each tube were obtained and compared using multi-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test(α=0.05). Results: Mean voxel values were significantly higher and noise values were significantly lower in the modified orientation than in the standard orientation (P<0.05). MAR activation and tube current levels did not show significant differences in most cases of the modified spatial orientation and in the absence of the dental implant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Modifying the spatial orientation of the head increased brightness and reduced spatial orientation noise in adjacent regions of a dental implant, with no influence from the tube current level and MAR.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2021

The noise is defined as unwanted sound that causes discomfort and physical changes. This study was conducted to evaluate intensity of noise in the pediatric dental clinic and to investigate noise environment of a pediatric dentist. Human ear shaped microphone and mobile noise level meter were used for recording noise and calculating intensity of noise. By recording according to the method specified by Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) of Korea Ministry of labor and employment, the following results were obtained. For 16 experimental days, 8 hour time weighted average (8hr-TWA) was 49.33 dBA (A-weighted deci-Bell) on daily average with maximum 58.54 dBA and minimum 33.97 dBA. And Dose was 0.49% on daily average with maximum 1.28%, minimum 0.04%. These values are less than criteria of KOSHA standard (85 dBA, 100%). Comparing the highest noise level for each patient, pulp therapy group and Frankel grade I group were the highest. The intensity of dental noise of pediatric dental clinic didn't meet standard of KOSHA. It is necessary to re-evaluate noise environment by establishing new standards considering environment of pediatric dental clinic.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2018

Background: Respiration monitoring is necessary during sedation for dental treatment. Recently, acoustic respiration rate ($RRa^{TM}$), an acoustics-based respiration monitoring method, has been used in addition to auscultation or capnography. The accuracy of this method may be compromised in an environment with excessive noise. This study evaluated whether noise from the ultrasonic scaler affects the performance of RRa in respiratory rate measurement. Methods: We analyzed data from 49 volunteers who underwent scaling under intravenous sedation. Clinical tests were divided into preparation, sedation, and scaling periods; respiratory rate was measured at 2-s intervals for 3 min in each period. Missing values ratios of the RRa during each period were measuerd; correlation analysis and Bland-Altman analysis were performed on respiratory rates measured by RRa and capnogram. Results: Respective missing values ratio from RRa were 5.62%, 8.03%, and 23.95% in the preparation, sedation, and scaling periods, indicating an increased missing values ratio in the scaling period (P < 0.001). Correlation coefficients of the respiratory rate, measured with two different methods, were 0.692, 0.677, and 0.562 in each respective period. Mean capnography-RRa biases in Bland-Altman analyses were -0.03, -0.27, and -0.61 in each respective period (P < 0.001); limits of agreement were -4.84-4.45, -4.89-4.15, and -6.18-4.95 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The probability of missing respiratory rate values was higher during scaling when RRa was used for measurement. Therefore, the use of RRa alone for respiration monitoring during ultrasonic scaling may not be safe.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.113-128
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to serve as a basis for the development of dental technology and for creating a condition that dental technicians could work with pride and right values, by examining what problems there were in their health care, what they thought about them, and how the problems could be solved, The findings of this study were as below: 1. The most serious and harmful element in dental technology workshop was a dust(57.5%) and a noise(33.3%). 2. Approximately 99.0% of the dental technicians investigated made a complain of air pollution caused by noise. Their opinion on a possible measure to remove noise air pollution was that the noise-generating machine should be replaced(64.1%) or that it should be isolated(28.8%). 3. 76.0% complained air pollution cause by dust deteriorates their working efficiency. As a way to eliminate it, they suggested a dust chamber(35.3%) or an air cleaner(27.5%) should be installde. 4. About 80% made a complain of gas air pollution. The most common related symptom was a headache(56.9%). They thought that gas-generating machine should be isolated(39.9%) or that an air purifier should be prepared(33.3%). 5. The largest impact of heat and light on their body was weakening their eyesight(56.9%). 47.1% got burn once though four times, and 34.3% did five times or more. The way to prevent them was to install an automatic casting machine(66.0%) or use protective glasses(28.1%). 6. Approximately 47.7% were considering a change of occupation, and the most common reason was heavy work(23.5%), followed by poor prospect(21.6%) and working environment(19.0%) in the order named. 7. 88.9% responded they were likely to have an occupational disease. Their idea about the proper frequency of regular health examination was once a year(53.6%), or once per every six months(41.8%). 8. The field they were most interested in was health care(39.2%), followed by academic research activities(31.4%). This fact indicated it's most urgently required to improve their working environment.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.195-196
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• 2018

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.137-142
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the improvement of indoor air quality management in dental clinic by investigating the level of indoor air quality recognition among dental clinic workers. The questionnaire survey was conducted for about 4 weeks from May 20 to June 20, 2018 in dental clinics located in Jeollanamdo area and 143 were used as the analysis data. The method of indoor air quality management in dental clinic was preferred to "natural ventilation" method and the number of natural ventilation was 1 to 2 times per day and the results of survey on indoor environment satisfaction showed that satisfaction level was lowest in noise and smell items. The types of subjective symptoms experienced by workers working at dental clinics are "cough", "eye burn", and "headache" and a survey on the degree of the relationship between subjective symptoms and indoor air quality showed that 94.4% (135) of respondents answered "very relevant" and "slightly related". As a result of multiple regression analysis, the variables affecting the indoor air quality satisfaction of the dental clinic staff were analyzed as the items such as lighting, noise, main work, number of patients, comparing indoor and outdoor air quality and among them, "comparing indoor and outdoor air quality" was analyzed as having a great influence. To improve the indoor air quality satisfaction of dental clinic worker adequate ventilation, designate the person responsible for the indoor air quality management and periodic measurement efforts will be necessary.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2516-2523
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• 2013

Noise occurred when medical treatment in dental clinic will affect the patients. This study was measured the noise level and frequency in case of medical examination and also has evaluated the degree of indoor noise using the NR-curve, NRN and a distance to conversation between worker and patients using the PSIL. It shows that noise level was 69.3~81.5dB(A) and frequency was very high (more than 4K(Hz)) and analysis by NR-curve showed that it was exceed the noise permit level and distance to conversation was less than 1meter by PSIL. To remedy a fear of noise in patients and provide a conversational satisfaction, it's considered that choosing the low noise-vib. equipment, using the masking effect and set the room to explain. So It is possible to improve their competitiveness.