Avoid Common Mistakes: Proper Sharps Disposal for Dental Practices What You Need To Know

Proper Sharps Disposal for Dental Practices What You Need To Know. Avoid Common Mistakes With Expert Solutions From Secure Waste

A study conducted at the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences revealed that only 60% of dental offices and clinics adhered to standard methods for sharps disposal. Since needles, burs, scalpels, blades, and other sharp instruments are used daily, ensuring their safe and secure disposal should be a top priority. Although 96% of dentists recognize the importance of proper disposal, only 36% use leak-proof and puncture-resistant containers for blades and needles. This oversight greatly increases the risk of injuries and infections.

To help you avoid these mishaps that can have serious consequences, it is necessary to understand the common mistakes. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the key errors to avoid at all costs when disposing of sharps waste disposal. Keep reading to protect yourself, your staff, and your patients!

Common Sharps Disposal Mistakes in Dental Practices and How to Avoid Them

Some of the most common sharps disposal mistakes that can happen are mentioned below:

Using the Wrong Sharps Container

Dental equipment such as needles, anesthetic carpules (glass cartridges), and many more need special containers for disposal. The use of an improper container like a bottle of plastic or makeshift bins instead of proper FSA-approved sharps containers can cause major injuries to medical professionals and, in some cases, even death. So it is suggested to always use a puncture-resistant, leak-proof, and clearly labeled sharps container that has a secure lid on it.  

Overfilling Sharps Containers

When people stuff way too many needles, scalpels, and other endodontic files into an already-filled sharps container, it increases the risk of spilling and affecting the people who pick them up. FDA says to follow this rule in which you always fill three-quarters of the container, leave some room for holding it, and swap the containers as many times as you need. 

Improper Needle Removal

Many professionals try to recap the needles or try to remove them from syringes, and both of them are some of the most dangerous mistakes in a dental clinic. It exposes dental staff to bloodborne pathogens like HIV, Hepatitis, and many other diseases. This is why always use the one-handed scoop technique for recapping only when it is necessary, or you can also use a needle removal device like a needle notcher, needle removal pliers, or self-retracting needles to dispose it.

Mixing Sharps with Other Medical Waste

When you mix sharps with other waste materials like gauze, cotton rolls, or even gloves, thinking that they will save needles from breaking out, they occupy a lot of space, and you will have to use more than the required number of sharps disposal containers.  That is why use a biohazard bag for non-sharp contaminated waste.

Keeping Sharps Containers in Hard-to-Reach or Unsafe Locations

Never keep the sharps container in a hard-to-reach location, making sure that dental professionals can dispose of needles and other sharp instruments safely and efficiently. As it will be frequently required, and if it is too high, it will fall when you try to reach for it, and if it is kept too low, you will stumble on it, so it is important to keep it at an eye level that can easily be reached by extending your arm.

Failing to Train Staff on Proper Disposal

Some newly hired fresher dental assistants might mistakenly skip sharps disposal rules and the consequences of not following them. It is your responsibility to teach them and make them understand that lives are at stake when they don’t follow these rules. Provide ongoing sharps safety training for dentists and staff on sharp waste disposal protocols. Make it a part of your clinic’s infection control training and refresh it at least once a year.

Not Using a Professional Sharps Disposal Service

Some clinics dispose of their wastes, be it sharps or biohazards, by themselves using local and unreliable pickup services, which can lead to a compliance violation. Improper disposal can lead to hefty fines, legal actions, or even the suspension of practice licenses. This is why you should always partner with a licensed medical waste disposal company that will properly pick up the waste and documentation to ensure compliance and safety. 

Disposing of Dental Burs Incorrectly

Burs are the rotary cutting instruments used to prepare cavities, shape teeth, and remove material, which means they are sharp enough to cut through or puncture the waste bag and cause injury to the person handling it. This is why it needs to be properly sealed with the help of tape to make it blunt and then dispose of it properly, just like needles and scalpel blades.  

Ensuring Ongoing Compliance and Safety in Your Dental Practice

Regulatory Compliance

To make sure of compliance, hospitals and clinics must follow the federal, state, and local Dental clinic waste disposal regulations, including:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Compliance

• Follow OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) for handling contaminated sharps. Dental workers must make sure that the needles, burs, and all the sharp equipment are properly taped and then disposed of.
• Implement an Exposure Control Plan (ECP) to minimize risks of needlestick injuries.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Follow EPA regulations on medical waste disposal, particularly for hazardous and biohazardous sharp waste.
• Ensure that any chemicals used (e.g., amalgam) do not contaminate sharp waste.

Emergency Preparedness

Emergencies that commonly happen are allergic reactions, fainting, or heart-related issues. In these cases, the dental clinic must be prepared with appropriate help, like oxygen tanks, an AED (automated external defibrillator), and epinephrine injectors. Along with that, the staff should be trained with basic life support at all times. 

Workplace Safety and Risk Management

• Conduct hazard assessments and routine workplace safety inspections.
• Establish a system for reporting workplace injuries, accidents, and near-misses.

Conclusion

When you incorporate sharp waste disposal and enforce these compliances in your clinic, it becomes a safer space for professionals, patients, and workers. This allows them to handle hazardous waste pickup and properly dispose of or burn these items. And if you are looking for a reliable sharp waste disposal service, you can always trust us, Secure Waste. We provide you with a hassle-free, fully compliant sharps disposal service for dental practices.

Because proper sharps disposal isn’t just a rule—it’s a responsibility that affects lives.