Disposable gloves are essential equipment in every dental practice. They ensure infection control standards and protocols are met and play a critical role in protecting both patient and practitioner.
Choosing the right disposable gloves can be a challenge, given the vast array of options available. They vary widely according to application, material, quality, performance, and much more. Whether providing higher durability and protection, improving tactile sensitivity and dexterity, or addressing an allergy to materials like latex, new glove innovations are continually being developed.
This article will cover the types of gloves used in dentistry, explore their effectiveness, and reveal the comparative benefits of nitrile gloves in dental applications.
Disposable gloves in dentistry are typically made from nitrile, latex, or vinyl. Vinyl gloves are less durable, less adaptable to the hand, and offer less protection than either latex or nitrile. Latex gloves offer high levels of protection and are flexible and comfortable but can cause allergic reactions. Nitrile gloves solve the latex allergy problem while offering many additional benefits; they provide the highest all-round durability, chemical and puncture resistance, and protection from biomedical exposure.
Nitrile gloves come in industrial grade and medical grade, also known as exam grade. Exam grade is the most suitable for dental practices, providing protection from saliva and blood-borne pathogens to chemicals while maintaining dexterity and tactile sensitivity.
Made of a tough synthetic rubber compound, nitrile gloves are reputed to be 3X more puncture resistant than latex, making them ideal for dental practices where the use of sharps is common. They are, therefore, indispensable for infection control during patient examinations and procedures, safeguarding the practitioner from harmful pathogens. The resistance of nitrile gloves to punctures and corrosive materials makes them the ideal choice in personal protective equipment (PPE), minimizing clinician exposure and protecting the patient from risk of contamination.
Nitrile fits snugly and adjusts to the practitioner’s hand to provide ergonomic coverage that optimizes tactile feedback while helping to reduce hand fatigue. When manufactured with a textured surface for grip and a silky interior for ease of donning, practitioners enjoy the added benefits of precise handling and seamless glove changes.
Latex-free and odour-free, they are also free of powder to minimize contamination and residue formation often caused by powdered gloves. They are chemo-tested for resistance to permeation of chemotherapy agents and provide a high chemical resistance, in addition to puncture resistance.
For added convenience, their beaded cuffs prevent roll down and enable dental practitioners to don them quickly and easily – ready to care for their next patient. Available in blue, Frontier Dental nitrile exam gloves come in a range of sizes, including extra-small, small, medium, large, and extra-large, to fit each practitioner perfectly.
A popular latex alternative, exam-grade nitrile gloves are ideal for dental environments. They provide an excellent biological barrier, superior protection from sharps and corrosive materials, and provide a comfortable fit and feel. Forward-thinking dental practices are choosing advanced nitrile gloves designed to provide a positive in-office experience for both patients and practitioners.