New device could help anxious dental patients
A new device, which cancels out the dreaded noise of the dental drill, could help thousands of anxious dental patients.
Dental anxiety is extremely common and many patients are filled with dread at the mere thought of the dentist’s drill, let alone the noise it makes. The new device can be plugged into an MP3 player or a mobile phone; the device muffles the noise of the drill, whilst still enabling people to listen to music and communicate with their dentist.
The innovative device, which was developed by researchers at King’s College, London South Bank University and Brunel University, is made up of a microphone and a chip, which analyses the soundwaves and uses a filter to filter out the noise of the drill, whilst allowing music and the sound of the dentist’s voice to pass through. Other noises which are deemed unpleasant or scary, such as those generated by suction pipes, can also be filtered out.
According to experts, the device could spell the end of fears about going to the dentist for hundreds of people. Professor Brian Millar, from King’s College Dental Institute, was one of the lead researchers on the project; he was inspired by Lotus, the carmaker. Lotus has already developed a device to filter out road noise whilst allowing drivers to hear emergency vehicles and warning noises.
Professor Millar said the device would be a cost-effective solution for dentists; many people will benefit from the new device and those patients with MP3 players and certain types of mobile phone will be able to benefit from it without any additional cost.
The research team are now looking for investors to bring the device to the market; they are hoping that an investor will see the potential of the product and bring it to as many dental surgeries as possible.
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