Safe Handling of Sharps
The term sharps means any sharp or pointy object that could penetrate the skin or oral mucosa. In dentistry the most common sharps include:
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needles
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scalpels
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endo files
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burs
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instruments
We have a number of measures in place to avoid sharps injuries in particular needle stick injuries. Every surgery contains a puncture proof sharps bin that should be stored above 'child level'. It should be replaced when the fill line is reached (3/4 of the way) to avoid sharps protruding from the top. We have protocol in place to follow should anyone receive a needle stick injury.
