Reducing the risk of needlesticks: methods used to reload syringes.

To achieve local anesthesia, dentists may need to administer a second injection. One widely used textbook advocates removing the needle before replacing the used cartridge. To determine the extent to which practicing dentists follow this recommendation, the author surveyed 144 practicing dentists in an upstate New York community and found that only 3 percent use this method. The rest leave the needle on to minimize their risk of a needlestick.