How to Protect Against the Dentist's Drill? Can't Use Earplugs, So What Then?

Hi, I need to visit a dentist and drill through the glue that remained after orthodontic treatment in order to do it again... It was a year ago, I didn't let the orthodontist too drill back then because it was too loud so she couldn't make a retainer for me and my teeth are now all over the place again... My jaw hurts, I can't close it, can't literally even eat.

There will be a lot of drilling now (literally every teeth have some glue to drill through) and 2 years after...

I need to protect myself, I have REALLY STRONG HYPERACUSIS. I'm literally going to die there without anything.

We can't use earplugs because of the bone conduction, then what else? There is the 5 seconds drilling, followed by a 10 second break rule but I will just not endure this 5 seconds.

I don't know. What now, please, ANYTHING. My jaw hurts, I can't close it, I need orthodontic treatment but orthodontic treatment will kill me because it's loud AF. What to do now

Maybe noise cancelling headphones? But don't they only work on low frequencies?

Really, help me.

 

There is really no good way to protect against the dentist drill.
You can try booking 2 or 3 back to back appointments and getting the dentist to drill in short bursts with lots of breaks, but then it's going to take that much longer.

Some dentists use laser drill, so if you can find one, it might be your best bet.
I would also consider extraction(s) instead, depending on which tooth etc...

 

Noise canceling headphones

Electric dental drills are quieter

 

Extraction will not work, jaw will continue to missalign itself. I need to get rid of this glue sooner or later.

Laser drill will not work for glue probably same as it doesn't work for filling.

Noise cancelling headphones works for high frequencies?

 

Noise cancelling headphones worked for me. I had huge old amalgam filling replaced. No problems with NC headphones. Much quieter.

 

@Snake

I have no personal experience with NC headphones. Supposedly they work best for the lower frequencies, but they do have some effect on sustained higher frequencies. Do not use earplugs as you get the occlusion effect and it will be louder.

 

When I use loose fitting noise blocking headphones I have no problem. They don't completely close the gap between the jaw and ear so the phones are not completely air tight. I get about a 20-25% noise deduction and that's been enough for me. I got this advice from a MIT sound (ears) engineer.

 

My dentist provides noise cancelling headphones and I provide the music.

 

So which headphones exactly you used? Thanks

 

Aren’t all dental drills electric?

 

https://blog.kavo.com/en/air-driven-vs-electrical-handpieces/

Most dental drills are air driven, and that is why they are so loud. Some newer models that are air driven are quieter than the ones from years ago. This is what my dentist used for my cavity drill out last month, and I did fine without any NC headphones. Supposedly the electric ones are also in use, although less commonly, and are quieter so users that are particularly sensitive to the sound can seek dentists that use them out.

 

QUIET Electric Dental Drills — Instead of Traditional Air-Powered Drills

 

Where?
There are different laser drills. One for soft tissue and one for hard. You want the latter.

 

No.

 

I used entry level ones called Lindy NC 40 which has good reviews and worked well. Cost around £40

 

So you are supposed to ask if the drills are air powered or electric?

So noise cancelling headphones reduce the noise a bit? I don't recall reading this until now.

 

Where?

 

I found one at Yonge/Eglinton: Dr. Sugar. He has both laser and traditional dentistry options. I actually went to him for a consult, found him to be very nice and understanding - even said that he had a bit of tinnitus himself. Let me hear the laser system (which makes its own kind of clicking noise unfortunately) and told me to come back whenever I needed my next dental work done. Was very nice and professional. I didn't have any specific work done, just a consult; but I'd recommend him.

Just know that the laser does make its own noise. No vibrations, which probably makes it better. But I expect the clicking could cause some spikes in very sensitive people as well.

 

Even with ANR headphones, won’t the sound and vibration conduct through the teeth and bones?

ANR is for low frequencies, passive (earplugs/muffs) are for high.

I don’t think you can avoid the vibrations... for the noise, earplugs should be fine.

You can go and tell them you will raise your hand or signal them if you are having difficulty, otherwise... don’t go... I still have glue I find over 35 years later... that stuff is strong. Maybe they can try to chisel it off with their little plaque tool that they scrap with?

Good luck.