title: General dental practitioners and hearing impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hearing impairment (HI) remains a problem among dentists Hearing loss at speech frequencies was recently reported among dentists and dental hygienists. This study aimed to investigate prevalence and factors associated with perceived HI among dentists.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2009-2010, 100 general dental practitioners (GDPs) and 115 general (medical) practitioners (GPs) (mean ages, 43.7 and 44.4 years) from Rome (Italy), who commenced practice ≥ 10 years ago, were interviewed on a series of occupation- and recreation-related HI risk factors and on HI-associated symptoms (tinnitus, sensation of fullness, hypoacusis). Prevalence of presumptive HI (≥ 1 symptom perceived during workdays and weekends) was assessed and factors associated with presumptive HI were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence was 30.0% (95% confidence interval, 21.0-39.0%) and 14.8% (95% confidence interval, 8.3-21.3%) among GDPs and GPs, respectively. Occupation (GDP vs. GP), family history of hypoacusis, hypertension, ear diseases and smoking were significantly associated with presumptive HI. Within GDPs alone, significant associations were found for frequent use of ultrasonic scalers, use of dental turbines aged≥1 year and prosthodontics as prevalent specialty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GDPs experienced HI risk than GPs. Such a risk was not generalized to all dentists, but was specific for those who frequently used noisy equipment (aged turbines, ultrasonic scalers) during their daily practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GDPs with 10 or more years of practice who routinely use potentially noisy equipment, could be at risk of HI. In order to prevent such condition, daily maintenance and periodical replacement of dental instruments is recommended.
authors: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe Alessio
authors: GA
authors: Messano
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Petti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000295:instrumentation; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011998:Recreation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000295:instrumentation