Pre and post-exposure preventive measures to injuries caused by percutaneous instruments during dental practice

• Autor(a) principal: Teixeira, Cleonice da Silveira
• Data de Publicação: 2008
• Outros Autores: Pasternak-Júnior, Braulio, Silva-Sousa, Yara Teresinha Corrêa, Silva, Sílvio Rocha Corrêa
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista odonto ciência (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://revistaseletronicas.pucrs.br/ojs/index.php/fo/article/view/1211
• topic: Occupational risk; prevention; biosafety; Biosafety; Infection control

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of injuries caused by percutaneous instruments among dentists, verify the use of equipment for individual protection (EPI) and the measures taken after the accident. Methods: The sample was composed by dentists, who worked in Santa Catarina state and attended continuing education courses at UFSC in 2005. Data were collected by means of a self-applied and semi-structured questionnaire on general information about prevention, use of EPI, and occurrence of accidents. Results: Eighty dentists answered the questionnaire and 73% had at least one accident. The prevalence of routine use of EPI was: disposable gloves and masks (100%); eyeglasses (96%); gowns (97%); caps (52%), and rubber dam (56%). Omission of EPI use was not the main reason for accidents, but lack of attention (71%) and hurry (35%) were mostly cited. Only 22% of dentists were submitted to post-exposure preventive measures after accidents; most dentists only washed the injury (69%). The materials and instruments mostly reported as the cause of accidents were: drills, needles, curettes, root elevators, knife blades, and endodontic files. Conclusion: This study suggests that it is necessary to improve the orientation and awareness of dentists on the correct post-exposure management of injuries caused by percutaneous instruments. Key words: Occupational risk; prevention; biosecurity