Tinnitus at the Dentist

Many people with tinnitus are concerned that the volume of dental procedures will damage their hearing and result in louder tinnitus. This is a common fear posted on tinnitus internet forums, along with supportive claims of this “worst fear” happening. This fear and the avoidance it promotes has the unfortunate result of preventing people with tinnitus from getting the care they deserve to keep their teeth and gums healthy. I’ve had several people in my practice come to me for help only after several years of avoiding necessary and experiencing associated pain and decay.

In fact, there is no justification for this fear, and, in my opinion, the reports of permanently louder tinnitus following dental work are likely false. Any such reports are probably based on subjective, fear-biased estimates of tinnitus volume (a “self-fullfiling prophecy”) or coincidence. Today (see the accompanying photo), I had two teeth ground down to prep for crowns. It doesn't get much louder than that! And as expected, I had no problem with my tinnitus!

Dental equipment is not dangerously loud and the exposure to the sound of the equipment is too short to have any lasting effect on hearing. And, there’s no indication that the “bone conduction” as a sound source is any more damaging. Personally, after a few years of mild anxiety on visiting the dentist following my tinnitus onset, I’ve been blissfully free of this concern. I just get the care I need and think nothing of it. It’s been 20 years and several root canals later (including one that required grinding through a metal crown!) and my tinnitus is no louder. In fact, nothing I’ve done - no food I’ve eaten, no medication I’ve taken, no anesthetic I’ve received, no loud setting I’ve attended (with proper hearing protection!) has had any affect on the volume of my tinnitus.

So please get the care you need, and be very objective in estimating your tinnitus volume when you'‘re done!

NOTE: If your tinnitus is reactive, meaning, some external sounds affect tinnitus volume, there may be a temporary increase in volume that lasts a few minutes or hours. This is a normal part of having tinnitus and something one can habituate to.