Needlestick injuries and you

In dental practices, there are many health hazards of which professionals need to be aware. Not only are there dangerous chemicals in use, but sharp equipment also carries various risks that need to be considered. This is especially true of items such as used syringes, as these also present the additional danger of cross-infection and therefore need to be disposed of safely.

How common are needlestick injuries?

Syringes form a core part of any dentist’s armamentarium. Mainly used to administer local anaesthetic during treatments, these tools can be highly dangerous if not stored properly or capped after use. According to the 2017 needlestick injury survey, run by the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), just under half of the respondents (48%) had received a needlestick injury whilst at work and, out of this, 58% had experienced more than one.¹ In fact, another study found more than 50% of dentists and dental students experience a serious injury from needles at least once in a 12-month period – suggesting that these injuries are common occurrences for individuals of all skill levels.²