Incidence and factors associated with sharps injuries among clinical-track students at the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University School of Dentistry

The clinical areas with the highest incidence were the Operative dentistry and Oral Surgery, primarily during instrument cleaning and patient care. Anesthesia needles, probes, and files were the instruments most frequently involved. Although most students washed the affected area and applied antiseptics, reporting the accident and undergoing testing or prophylactic measures were rare.

No statistically significant association was found between clinical level and the occurrence of accidents (p = 0.302). It is concluded that the high frequency of accidents and the low reporting rate highlight the need to strengthen prevention practices and post-exposure management during clinical training. The information obtained provides a basis for designing institutional strategies aimed at improving occupational safety for dental students.