B.ZABEK1*, with P.R.LIKEMAN2. (1DENTAMERICA, Plac Szczepanski, Kraków, Poland; 2Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, UMDS, London SE1, U.K.)
The wearing of surgical gloves in clinical dentistry is regarded as normal for good practice and necessary for cross infection control between the patient and the dentist. However the adequacy of this protection depends on the gloves remaining in tact during all procedures. Used gloves collected from colleagues in a large dental practice in Poland have been examined for perforations following particular clinical procedures. After use, gloves were marked Left or Right and what procedure had been undertaken wearing them; they were then filled gently with water; leakage of which indicated the presence and place of any perforations.
Over 500 gloves have been examined in this way from which 39 gloves with perforations have been found. The results have subsequently been divided between the different clinical procedures undertaken. The incidence of perforations was close to 10% for all procedures involving tooth preparation and restoration, including endodontics. However the incidence of perforations was over 20% where a steel matrix was used. The incidence for procedures in the provision of complete and partial dentures was less than
As the study has progressed the participants have become more aware of the means by which gloves come to be perforated, such that the number of perforations has reduced. A chart will be shown of the most vulnerable areas for glove perforations during clinical procedures.
It is hoped this abstract will raise the awareness of glove perforations of those who read it.