A prospective survey of percutaneous injuries in orthodontists

This national survey provides documentation regarding typical orthodontic p ractice patterns in the United States, including the prevalence of percutan eous injuries. The sample reflects a similar geographic distribution of the population as a whole, with more practitioners located in areas with highe r populations. Most practitioners in this sample were in solo full-time pra ctice, averaging 35 hours per week, and treating patients for 47 weeks per year. A 20-day prospective period was used to collect data regarding exposu re to percutaneous injuries. The study identified a mean percutaneous injur y rate of 0.085 during a 20-day period for practicing orthodontists, a valu e that can be extrapolated to slightly less than one (0.99) percutaneous in jury per orthodontist per year. The majority of these injuries (84%) occurr ed outside the mouth. This rate is approximately one third the rate reporte d for dentists in general practice.