PERFORATION OF DENTAL GLOVES DURING PROSTHODONTIC TREATMENTS AS ASSESSED BY THE CONDUCTIVITY AND WATER INFLATION TESTS

The incidence of latex glove perforation during prosthodontic treatmen t was investigated on 122 occasions using two methods, a conductivity test and a water inflation test. Latex glove perforation was detected in 38.5% of the treatments by the conductivity test and in 27.9% by th e water inflation test. The perforation went unrecognized in 74.7% of the occurrences (35/47 incidents) using the conductivity test and in 6 4.7% (22/34) when the water inflation test was used. Of the total 55 g love perforations, 21 perforations were detected only by conductivity lest, 3 were detected only by the water inflation test, and 31 perfora tions were detected by both methods, which suggested that the conducti vity test is more sensitive than the water inflation test for the dete ction of glove perforation. The results of this research suggested tha t even when latex gloves are worn, the risk to prosthodontists of expo sure to body fluids remains in four of every six treatments, often wit hout the awareness of the prosthodontist.