Noise Cancellation: A Dental Patient's Friend When the Drill Whirrs

Admit it. You don't like the whirring sound of the dental drill as much as the patient next in line. Spinning at an average of 300,000 rpm, the buzzing sound that fills the dental office is, more often than not, a major source of dental phobia. When your turn to sit on the chair comes, the anxiety grows even more.

Don't worry; dentists clearly understand where you're coming from. The drill isn't exactly the most ideal sound to hear in an office that protects your teeth from diseases, but it isn't the loudest. All the dentist needs is to give his patient a couple of headphones and some music to drown the buzzing sound in tracks of his choice.

Not all dentists have a portable player in the office (for hygiene purposes), but they may allow you to bring your own. Instead of using your headphones, the dentist may provide you with a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to block outside noise. As to the ideal music to play while in the chair, it's up to your preference.

The headphones usually work by producing their own sound waves, matching those of outside sounds. Think of these sound waves as an acidic and basic substance; when the two mix, the result is a neutral solution. The sound waves cancel each other out, blocking the high-pitched sound of the dental drill.


The headphones also come with thick layers of foam that absorb any sound waves that manage to get through. Overall, it has more than enough protection to reduce your anxiety from hearing the whirring drill. However, if this isn't enough to alleviate your fears of the drill, you may want to close your eyes for the duration of the operation.

The sight of the spinning drill may just be as nerve-racking as its sound. Some dentists offer dark glasses for the patient to wear to prevent him from seeing the drill.