Percutaneous injuries in practicing dentists. A prospective study using a 20-day diary.
A novel diary study of 2,304 practicing U.S. dentists examined the frequency and nature of percutaneous injuries over one dentist-month. Burs were responsible for most extraoral injuries (40 percent), and syringe needles accounted for most intraoral injuries (32 percent). The annualized mean injury rate was 3.35, which represents about a threefold decrease since 1987.
Siew
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Department of Toxicology, American Dental Association Health Foundation, Chicago 60611, USA.
Gruninger
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Miaw
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Neidle
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EA
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D003762:Dental Instruments / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003813:Dentistry; D003815:Dentists; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology