Occupational injuries and exposures in dental education: a retrospective analysis of institutional incident reports

Occupational injuries in dental training arise from frequent use of needles and sharp instruments and contact with potentially hazardous materials. Evidence based on institutional incident-report systems remains limited in Türkiye. We aimed to describe the frequency, characteristics, and management of reported occupational incidents across training stages and professional roles in a dental school. This retrospective, descriptive study analyzed occupational incident reports recorded in the institutional i-DEAL occupational safety reporting system between January 2023 and September 2025. Data were extracted from occupational incident notification forms within the i-DEAL reporting system originating from preclinical laboratories, clinical units, and the central sterilization unit. Key variables included the type of incident (percutaneous vs. mucocutaneous/ocular), instrument involved, contamination status, anatomical site, and post-exposure management procedures. Statistical analyses were performed using the Pearson chi-square test or the Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test, as appropriate. A total of 122 incidents were analyzed. Most were percutaneous sharps injuries (84.4%), with needlestick injuries being the most common mechanism (31.1%). Contaminated exposures accounted for 78.7% of incidents. Subgroup analyses suggested between-group variation in incident type, mechanism, and department across training levels ( p ≤ 0.006). Notably, preclinical students had a higher proportion of mucocutaneous/ocular exposures and no recorded needlestick injuries, while clinical students and professionals predominantly experienced percutaneous injuries. Incident-report data from a dental school show that percutaneous sharps injuries dominate reported occupational incidents, while mucocutaneous/ocular exposures, particularly ocular events, are relatively prominent in preclinical settings. Prevention efforts should be tailored to training stage and clinical context, emphasizing early and repeated safety education, safer needle-handling workflows, consistent eye protection from the preclinical phase, and streamlined reporting and post-exposure follow-up. Not applicable.