title: Management of Biomedical Waste: An Exploratory Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dental operatories pose a threat due to the high chances of infection transmission both to the clinician and the patients. Hence, management of dental waste becomes utmost importance not only for the health benefit of the dentist himself, but also people who can come into contact with these wastes directly or indirectly. The present study was conducted to find out the management of biomedical waste in private dental practice among 3 districts of Karnataka.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 186 private practitioners in 3 districts of Karnataka (Coorg, Mysore, Hassan), South India. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was distributed to assess the knowledge and practices regarding dental waste management. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 186 study subjects, 71 (38%) were females and 115 (62%) were males. The maximum number of participants belonged to the age group of 28-33 years (29%). Undergraduate qualification was more (70%). 90 (48%) participants had an experience of 0-5 years. Chi-square analysis showed a highly significant association between participant who attended continuing dental education (CDE) program and their practice of dental waste management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Education with regards to waste management will help in enhancing practices regarding the same. In order to fill this vacuum CDE programs have to be conducted in pursuance to maintain health of the community.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, Maggula, Virajpet, Coorg, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Abhishek
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. G. D. Pol Foundation's, YMT Dental College and Hospital, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Harshal N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Suryavanshi
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz University, Al-Kharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sam
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Periodontics, RKDF Dental College and Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chaithanya
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dental Science Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Punde
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S Swetha
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: Biomedical waste management; knowledge; practice; private dental practitioners