Our dental office is planning to conduct evaluations of dental safety devices. Can you tell me which safety dental needles or syringes are currently available?
The International Health Care Worker Safety Center at the University of Virginia maintains a list of available sharps safety products at http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/epinet. OSAP’s Issue Focus on Sharps Safety also has some valuable information on safer sharps devices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed some tools to assist dental practices in evaluating and, if appropriate, incorporating safer sharps devices in practice. First, the CDC has developed Sample Screening and Device Evaluation Forms to assist dental clinicians in determining which safety devices may be suitable for their practices. Also, CDC has posted information on a program called “Safer Device Implementation in Healthcare Facilities,” which shares the experiences of medical and dental professionals who have already considered and evaluated safety devices for their work settings.
