Effects of noise pollution on dental patients satisfaction level

ABSTRACT

Effects of the noises produced in the dental setup is a cause of various health related issues as well as dental anxiety to the patients, leading to [dental drop-out] i.e., patients refusing to undergo further dental treatment or ignoring follow up appointments. One hundred sixty-eight patients were treated for identical dental restorations in posterior teeth by 3 dentists, once in a Noisy Surgery and once in a Noise-Reduced Surgery. Questionnaires were filled by the patients after each procedure to assess the satisfaction level of the patients and plan of recall visit. After treatment in the Noisy Surgery 27.4% patients rated the experience as [Bad] or [Very Bad] and 11.9% patients did not want to visit for dental treatment again. After treatment in the Non-Noisy Surgery only 7.0% rated the experience as [Bad] or [Very Bad] and 2.4% patients did not want to visit for dental treatment again. The results of this study showed that patients treated in a noise-reduced environment show a greater satisfaction level and are more likely to visit for a dental treatment in future, as compared to those treated in a noisy environment