Can You Experience Hearing Loss as a result of Dental Care Treatment?

It’s rare to experience sudden hearing loss after getting dental care, but there have been some instances where this has happened. It’s important to seek help if any hearing problems suddenly come up, whether they are noticed shortly after your dentist visit. Early detection and treatment can help to prevent worsening symptoms. 

Experiencing sudden hearing loss, which could also come with tinnitus, feelings of fullness in the ear, or dizziness, can be caused by inflammation after receiving dental work. There’s a very low chance that the issue was caused by an ear infection, but it’s possible that an existing infection was irritated by drilling or deep cleanings. 

There’s a chance that the hearing loss could be caused by not receiving regular dental care. Tooth decay, abscesses, and inflamed gums have been linked to temporary hearing loss and tinnitus. Medications that are taken to reduce tooth pain can also lead to hearing loss. 

Hearing Loss caused by Toothaches and Pain Relievers

Pain relievers like aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen are safe and effective when taken as directed for temporary relief. But if you are trying to relieve the pain in your gums and decaying teeth due to not being able to afford dental care, you might give in and take more than the recommended dosage. 

High doses of aspirin, or even moderate doses that are taken frequently, can cause temporary hearing loss and tinnitus.    

Causes and Treatments for Tinnitus

Tinnitus is associated with phantom sounds of buzzing, ringing, or whistling noises. There is no exterior source for these noises. In some instances, the sounds of tinnitus may throb at the same pace as the person’s heartbeat. The sounds might sound loud or faint, could be heard continuously or on occasion, and might be heard in one ear or both ears. 

Nearly 1 in 5 people have some form of tinnitus. Tinnitus itself is not a health condition, rather it’s a symptom of a condition. For example, it could be a symptom of an ear injury, a problem with your circulatory system, damage to the inner ear, dental inflammation or gum infections, exposure to loud noises, or presbycusis (age-related hearing loss).   

If you or a loved one experiences hearing loss and/or tinnitus, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation from one of our hearing instrument specialists. 

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