NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF POWDERED LATEX GLOVES IN CLINICAL DENTISTRY

With the advent of CDCs ''universal precautions'' and OSHA's bloodborn e pathogen standard, the number of health-care workers wearing latex g loves has increased dramatically in the law few years. Reports of irri tation, contact, and allergic reactions to powdered latex gloves in bo th medicine and dentistry are on the rise as well. However, other prob lems related to powdered gloves and their effect on clinical dentistry are just beginning to be addressed. One recent study demonstrated tha t the starch used as a lubricant on latex rubber gloves significantly reduced the shear bond strength of etched porcelain to etched enamel w ith a resin adhesive system by nearly 40%. Questions also arise as to the proper handling of dental implants and the effect that powdered gl oves may have on their success based on the negative effects of post-s urgical foreign body granulomas reported in the medical community.