Millions of people around the world are afraid of dentists. One of the main reasons for this is the sharp, high-pitched sound of the dental equipment. Japanese scientists decided to study this issue scientifically for the first time and found that the fear is not just due to the loudness of the noise, but also its quality.
Dr. Tomomi Yamada, a dentist involved in the research, observed every day how patients were scared by this sound. According to him, despite the widespread nature of the problem, neither dentists nor anyone else had systematically studied the nature of this sound before. The researchers conducted aeroacoustic simulations using one of Japan's most powerful supercomputers to determine how this noise is created.
The equipment works on compressed air and creates turbulent flows, which generate the sound. However, simply lowering the volume is not enough. Yamada emphasizes: "The most important thing is not to reduce the noise, but to improve its quality." The researchers also studied how patients from different groups perceive this sound.
In short, children perceive this sound as sharper and more unpleasant than adults do. Therefore, the fear of dental procedures is not just psychological but also related to how the sound is heard.
To solve this problem, new research and optimization plans for the shape of dental tools are being developed. If this technology is implemented, dental offices in the future will be much less frightening, especially for children.
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