Noise Canceling headphones in Dental School?

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We initially were not allowed to wear headphones because this could somehow aid us to cheat during our practicals. Check with people at the school to see if this is even allowed. However, my class swayed our faculty to allow headphones. I would suggest small compact ones because you will most likely be wearing loupes that wrap around your ears.
 
The physics of noise cancelling headphones is that they cancel out low frequency noise a lot better than high frequency noise. A good demonstration of this is to put them on outside as a truck goes by on a road. Uphill, say, with its diesel engine working hard. You'll notice that the engine noise is reduced a lot, but you still hear the tire noise and overall air rush at almost its normal volume.

Thus, and alas, noise cancelling headphones aren't as effective on the high speed dental drill as we'd like. They do still help though, from both the ears being covered and the noise cancelling electronics. Over a long career they'd probably make a considerable difference.
 
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