Japanese scientists making quieter dental drills to reduce anxiety

By Stephen Beech

Dental drills are to be made quieter to reduce patients' anxiety.

Japanese scientists are studying the aeroacoustics of dental drills so they can pinpoint the anxiety-triggering sounds and design new, less loud instruments.

Fear of getting in the dentist's chair - known as odontophobia - prevents some people, particularly children, from getting regular check-ups and maintaining necessary dental hygiene.

One element of such anxiety comes from the sound of the dental drill , which makes a high-pitched whining noise.

As a dentist, Dr. Tomomi Yamada has witnessed discomfort and fear in patients first-hand.

Study leader Dr. Yamada said: “Originally, I was doing research on dental materials, but I realized that almost no one — not even dentists — was tackling this sound