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. 2020 May 5;6(5):e03889.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03889. eCollection 2020 May.

Latex and synthetic rubber glove usage in UK general dental practice: changing trends

Emma Critchley  1 , Michael N Pemberton  1
Affiliations

Latex and synthetic rubber glove usage in UK general dental practice: changing trends

Emma Critchley et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the current routine use of latex gloves and latex containing dental dam in UK general dental practice.

Methods: A questionnaire was disseminated to 89 general dental practitioners (GDPs) in June 2017. The survey concerned their current, routine use of latex gloves and latex-containing dental dam in general dental practice. In addition, monthly sales figures of gloves classified by material, were obtained from a UK dental supply company, for 2015-2017.

Results: The questionnaire response rate was 84 (94%), of whom 90% reported using non-latex (non-sterile examination) gloves for their routine dentistry. The majority were using nitrile gloves. All GDPs surveyed would use examination gloves for routine extractions, and 76% would use examination gloves for surgical extractions. The majority (75%) reported using non-latex dental dam. Sales of nitrile gloves were significantly higher than for latex gloves, with a continuing trend in the reduction in volume of sales of latex gloves.

Conclusion: The majority of GDP's now routinely use non-latex containing gloves and dental dam in their clinical dentistry. Nitrile gloves are predominantly used. Examination gloves are used for straightforward extractions, with many practitioners also using them for minor oral surgery. Sales of latex containing gloves are continuing to decrease.

Clinical significance: The routine use of latex-containing products in UK dental practice is low and likely to reduce further, with on-going benefit for the dental practitioner, latex allergic patients and prevalence of latex allergy in the general population.

Keywords: Allergy; Dental dam; Dental materials; Dental surgery; Dentistry; Evidence based medicine; Gloves; Immune response; Latex; Materials safety; Nitrile; Oral medicine.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
What type of examination (non-sterile) gloves do you routinely wear for dentistry?.
Figure 2
Figure 2
If non-latex gloves are used which material are they made from?.
Figure 3
Figure 3
What type of gloves do you routinely wear to carry out minor oral surgery?.
Figure 4
Figure 4
If you use non-latex examination gloves for routine dentistry are there any specific tasks for which you change to a latex containing glove?.
Figure 5
Figure 5
What type of dental dam do you routinely use when needed?.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Glove type quantity of sales by month and year. Information obtained from The Dental Directory.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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