Device blanks out dentist dreadful drill

LONDON: According to a BBC report, a new invention from researchers at King’s College London, Brunel University and London South Bank University, eliminates the high-pitched noise made by a dentist’s drill; thereby helping the patients overcome their fear of a dental check-up.

The interesting new device plugs into the MP3 or mobile music player of the patients, thereby allowing them to listen to music, while blanking out the sound of the drill. However, since the device does not filter out the other sounds, patients can clearly hear the dentist’s voice.

As per the BBC report, the device – the idea of which was originally conceived by Professor Brian Millar of King’s Dental Institute – makes use of a digital signal processor to analyze incoming sounds from mics placed near the drill. Once the drill is in operation, the new device effectively produces an inverted sound wave to efface the unwanted noise in the headphones.

In addition, thanks to the adaptive filtering technology of the device, even if the drill’s whine changes in pitch, the sound will continue to be blocked out.

Noting that the device will be “fairly cost-effective for dentists to buy,” Prof Millar said: “What we need now is an investor to develop the product further, to enable us to bring this device to as many dental surgeries as possible, and help people whose fear of visiting the dentist stops them from seeking the oral health care they need.”