Acoustic and fluid dynamic analysis of unpleasant noise in dental drills

Noise emitted by dental drills is often perceived as unpleasant by patients, leading to heightened anxiety and stress during treatment. This unpleasant noise primarily originates from aerodynamic factors associated with high-speed rotation driven by compressed air. Understanding and controlling its generation mechanism is essential for improving patient experience. In this study, we characterized the acoustic properties of dental drill noise and conducted a detailed analysis of its aerodynamic behavior using a supercomputer-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework. This novel framework enables the visualization and simulation of unsteady aeroacoustic phenomena under clinically relevant conditions. It allows quantitative evaluation of three key aspects: operational efficiency, mechanical safety, and patient comfort. This facilitates simulation-driven design, replacing traditional trial-and-error approaches. This approach contributes to the development of quieter and more comfortable dental drills, ultimately enhancing the treatment environment for patients.