Soundbite – could we soon be fitting patients with oral hearing aids?
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 8th January 2023
The world of dentistry is never still for long. After all, even with treatment modalities we’re already familiar with, there are always new techniques, products and ideas being created and explored that help to elevate procedures, and the patient experience, to the next level.
The UK has long been classed as having an ageing population, meaning that the average age of an individual residing in the nation is steadily getting higher. In fact, estimates suggest that the number of people who are aged over 85 will increase dramatically in the next 25 years, with the figure doubling from 1.3 million to 2.6 million.[i]
As professionals, we’re already aware that people are more likely to lose teeth as they advance in years. Indeed, as we get older our bodies tend to require extra attention and care, and other problems such as hearing loss become more common. Currently, it’s thought that 11 million people in the UK are affected by hearing loss, making it the second most common disability. Out of this figure, 8 million are aged 60 or over. But what if there were a way to combat tooth loss and hearing loss in a single solution?
I recently came across an interesting article that discussed the possibility of hearing devices being incorporated into dental implants. While just a theory at this point of time, the reasoning behind this idea is that because dental implants osseointegrate into the jawbone, they could be used to send vibrations through the bone to the inner ear. This way, those with hearing loss who need a replacement tooth would be able to solve both problems with one procedure, restoring hearing and tooth function in one step.[ii]
So, let’s explore this concept a little deeper. While research is yet to be conducted on the finer points of this theory, in the past there have been hearing aids developed that click onto the natural teeth and make use of the natural dentition’s bone conductivity. On the other hand, it’s safe to assume that dental implants would not necessarily have the same level of conductivity for sound. To measure this, researchers tested the sound conductivity of dental implants compared to natural teeth and the mastoid bone (which some hearing aids already use). Interestingly, this revealed that dental implants were just as good, and sometimes even better at conducting sound compared to natural teeth and the mastoid bone.[iii]
On the other hand, we have to appreciate the relatively niche nature of a combined solution, and the fact that mouth-based hearings aids are not necessarily going to perform better than ear-located alternatives. There is an argument for increased comfort here – as dental implants are a long-term solution, there’s every chance they could be more comfortable for individuals than a hearing device that sits behind the ear. However, there’s also the problem with maintenance and repair of the device, depending on how it works. If a hearing aid stops working but is incorporated into a dental implant, would rectifying any problems involve removing the crown (or even the full implant) and then having to replant it? Dental implants already come with their associated risks, so this could be problematic ground if peri-implantitis or any other complication occurs.
So, where does this leave us? Personally, I think there is definite potential for a product that fulfils a function as both a tooth replacement and a hearing aid, but there will need to be a lot of research and design to make this a reality. As our population gets older it is more likely that there will be more and more individuals suffering from both tooth loss and hearing loss, so hearing aids in dental implants may very well be an idea that could catch on.
For further information please call EndoCare on 020 7224 0999
Or visit www.endocare.co.uk
EndoCare, led by Dr Michael Sultan, is one of the UK’s most trusted Specialist Endodontist practices. Through the use of the latest technologies and techniques, the highly-trained team can offer exceptional standards of care – always putting the patient first. What’s more, EndoCare is a dependable referral centre, to which dentists from across the country send their patients for the best in specialist endodontic treatment.
[i] The Health Foundation. Our Ageing Population. Link: https://www.health.org.uk/publications/our-ageing-population#:~:text=Key%20points,health%20and%20social%20care%20services. [Last accessed October 22].
[ii] IFL Science. You Could One Day Wear Hearing Aids In Your Mouth Thanks To Dental Implant Technology. Link: https://www.iflscience.com/you-could-one-day-wear-hearing-aids-in-your-mouth-thanks-to-dental-implant-technology-65557 [Last accessed October 22].
[iii] IFL Science. You Could One Day Wear Hearing Aids In Your Mouth Thanks To Dental Implant Technology. Link: https://www.iflscience.com/you-could-one-day-wear-hearing-aids-in-your-mouth-thanks-to-dental-implant-technology-65557 [Last accessed October 22].
