Knowledge, Attitude and Awareness of Dental Radiographic Waste Management Among Dental Students: A Questionnaire -Based Survey

Abstract

Background: Dental radiography significantly contributes to the generation of radiographic waste such as lead foils and silver-containing fixer solutions. Improper disposal of these materials may pose serious risks to human health and the environment. Dental students, as future practitioners, play a vital role in ensuring safe and responsible waste management practices. Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and awareness of dental students regarding dental radiographic waste management. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 200 dental students including undergraduate students, interns, and postgraduate students. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and assess knowledge, attitude, and awareness regarding radiographic waste management. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to assess data normality, and the Mann–Whitney U test was used for group comparison. Results were expressed as frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Results: The total knowledge scores ranged from 13 to 18 with a mean score of 16.32 ± 1.20, indicating an overall satisfactory level of knowledge among the participants. Most participants demonstrated good awareness regarding environmental and health hazards associated with radiographic waste (90.0%) and correct disposal of fixer solutions (89.0%). However, knowledge regarding proper disposal of lead foils was comparatively lower (44.5%), and only 25.0% of participants had received formal training in radiographic waste management. Conclusion: Dental students demonstrated satisfactory knowledge and positive attitudes toward radiographic waste management. However, procedural gaps and limited formal training highlight the need for strengthened educational interventions and institutional reinforcement to promote environmentally responsible dental practice.