Knowledge and Practice of Dental Waste Management among Undergraduate Dental Students and Interns in College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the awareness and practices of dental waste management among dental students at College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Madinah Saudi Arabia.

Methodology: An observational analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at College of dentistry, Taibah University, which targeted all male and female dental students within clinical years (third, fourth and fifth) and interns using an anonymous self-administered online questionnaire.

Results: Amongst the total respondents, 15.1% (11) were male and 84.9% (62) were female. Significantly, 8 (11%) dental students stated that they were not aware of the different categories of biomedical waste generated at dental clinics.

Furthermore, 35 (47.9%) students reported that they dispose extracted teeth in yellow containers. While 6 (8.2%) dispose them in common bins. When asked about the colour coding followed for different biomedical waste, 31 (42.5%) dental students said they were not aware about it. On the other hand, 58 (79%) of them segregate different waste according to the laws related to biomedical waste management. Approximately, 5 (6.8%) dental students correctly answered that used needles and syringes fall under Category 4 (sharp waste), whereas only 3 (4.1%) of them informed that they dispose such needles in common bins after use.

Conclusion: The majority of the dental students answered questions pertaining to dental waste management incorrectly and followed wrong practices to dispose different waste. Moreover, a substantial percentage of them were not aware of the different colour codes adhered to for biomedical waste. Therefore, this research work denotes an urgent need to implement educational programs and develop stricter laws regarding this vital issue.