1Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics & Dental Material Sciences, F.O.D.S, K. G. Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics & Dental Material Sciences, F.O.D.S, K. G. Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
3Associate Professor, Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, K.G. Medical University, Lucknow, U.P., India
4Department of Prosthodontics & Dental Material Sciences, F.O.D.S, K. G. Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
5Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, F.O.D.S, K. G. Medical University, Lucknow, U.P., India
6Senior Resident, Department of Prosthodontics & Dental Material Sciences, F.O.D.S, K. G. Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
*Corresponding Author: Email: drkaushalp@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 24 September, 2015.
To determine the knowledge of dental professionals in India regarding the management of hazardous dental waste and actual practices followed by them.
A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted as a survey of Indian dental professionals. A self administered questionnaire was designed to determine the knowledge and practices on hazardous dental waste and knowledge and practice of safety measures against cross-infection. This questionnaire was e-mailed to the seven hundred fifty dentists randomly selected from list of Indian dental association. Overall response rate was 67.92% (n=494). Obtained response for each question from participated dentist was calculated in percentage.
Calculated data showed that there was very high discrepancy between knowledge and practice of dental professionals regarding hazardous waste management.
Majority of dentists practice improper waste disposal. Proper supervision and education should be done at all stages for proper management of hazardous waste. Practitioners should be retrained time to time for new technologies of proper waste disposal.
Amalgam, Dental professionals, Fixer, Hazardous waste, Infection, Segregation
