Dentist is pioneering the shrill free drill

David Moss, a dentist from Dunscar, is developing a device which will put an end to loud trips to the chair.

His firm, Silent Whisper, aims to make treatment more pleasant by removing or reducing the deafening whistle of the high-speed drills by using electronic 'sound modelling' techniques.

Mr Moss, a dentist for 23 years, says it will create a less stressful environment for patients.

"Anyone who has ever been to the dentists will know that the sound of the drill can be very off-putting," he says.

"People associate going to the dentists with the sound of the drill and if we can reduce or remove the noise then we will make the dentist's surgery a more pleasant place to come.

"This has always been one of the major factors that has put people off from going for important dental work and we are now in sight of removing that."

Mr Moss has spent two years working with the engineering department at Bolton College to develop the electronic device that, it is hoped, will change the frequency of the sound to make it inaudible.

He says: "I was quite surprised that nothing had previously been done to deal with the problem and went about getting the idea patented.

"We're not entirely sure if this will work yet, but the computer prototype almost eliminated the sound from the exhaust of the drill and we hope that it will work in practice.

"If it works we hope to get the backing of manufacturers and start using and marketing the device as soon as possible."

A £10,000 small business award from the government allowed Mr Moss to move the project from an idea, into business plan and finally into its current stage as a marketable product.

According to a survey, patients find the sound of the drill frightening, distressing and annoying.

It is hoped that the drill will also reduce the noise levels that dental workers are exposed to.

after US scientists showed that the high-pitched noise presents a potential workplace hazard.