A very common fear among people with hyperacusis is the need to go to the dentist for tooth removal or repair, since the dental drill dentists use for this task reaches between 85 and 95 dB, an intensity that can be problematic for those with moderate to severe hyperacusis. Here are some tips on how to handle this situation so that the impact on our ears is minimal or even negligible.
Currently, there are three types of dental drills: air-driven drills, electric drills, and laser drills. The most commonly used by dentists is the air-driven drill, which is the loudest. Electric drills make less noise, though their intensity can still be an issue for severe hyperacusis cases. Finally, the laser drill is the quietest, producing only a clicking sound, but it cannot be used on metal, so to remove amalgam residues one would need to use one of the other two drills. Therefore, a first measure could be to find a dentist who has an electric or laser drill to avoid the high intensity of the air-driven drill. |
| Air-driven dental drill* |
A second measure, recommended by Dr. Jack Vernon, is to ask the dentist to operate the drill in 5-second intervals with 10-second breaks in between. This helps prevent or reduce worsening caused by exposure time. Before the appointment, it is advisable to inform the dentist of your condition so they can take appropriate measures and estimate the time required. Additionally, if multiple teeth need treatment, depending on the severity of the hyperacusis, it may be advisable to treat only one tooth per visit.
The sound of the drill, being in contact with the tooth, is mainly transmitted through bone conduction. For this reason, I do not recommend using hearing protection, as it only helps with sound coming through the ear canal and may even accentuate the perceived intensity by causing the sound to resonate. If you have an electric toothbrush, you can understand what I mean if you brush your teeth while wearing earplugs.
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