A Pilot Study: Evaluating Disposable Syringes Compared to Non-Disposable Syringes for Dental Training

Area of Science:

• Dental Anesthesia Delivery
• Medical Device Safety
• Clinical Education

Background:

• Needlestick injuries are common with non-disposable syringes due to manual needle handling.
• Disposable syringes feature protective sheaths to minimize needle exposure during use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare disposable and non-disposable syringes for local anesthesia administration in dental students.
• To evaluate student and faculty experiences with both syringe types during clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involved two groups of third-year dental students (D3) alternating between disposable (N=67) and non-disposable (N=66) syringes over two 4-week sessions.
• Local anesthesia was administered to live patients under faculty supervision.
• Surveys were completed by students and faculty post-session to capture their experiences.

Main Results:

• Two needlestick injuries occurred with non-disposable syringes; none with disposable syringes, though no statistically significant difference in exposures was found.
• Students found non-disposable syringes easier to use and were more likely to prefer them due to stability and familiarity.
• Disposable syringes were easier to assemble/disassemble but perceived as less stable during aspiration.

Conclusions:

• Dental students and faculty preferred non-disposable syringes, citing familiarity and stability, despite potential safety benefits of disposable types.
• Dissatisfaction with disposable syringes stemmed mainly from the aspiration system and lack of experience.
• Integrating both syringe types early in dental curricula and providing faculty training could enhance usability and safety.