Evaluation of Glove Damage during Dental Procedures among Dental Specialists in Tabriz

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dental practitioners are prone to occupational risk of infection. This can be prevented in part by wearing gloves. However, for this to be effective, gloves should be intact during the entire course of dental procedure. Leaky surgical latex gloves have been seen in 0.9% of cases before use. As much as 1.9% of latex gloves have been reported to be damaged during dental procedures. In this study, we decided to assess glove damage during dental procedures among dental specialists in Tabriz. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six dental specialists were selected for this study. Each practitioner received 40 pairs of intact powdered latex gloves. Upon the completion of dental procedures, the gloves were retrieved and any tears were evaluated separately for right and left hands. Data was analyzed using chi-square test. RESULTS: 159 punctures were detected in 144 gloves (5%) out of 2880 unpaired gloves used by practitioners. They noticed the tear(s) in 60 cases (2%), however, 99 cases (3%) of tear(s) were not noted during the procedure. The highest rate of glove damage was observed in the prosthodontists’ group (12.3%), which was statistically significant comparing to other groups (p=0.048). The lowest rate of the damage was observed in the oral surgeons’ group (2%) which showed no significant difference (p=0.134). The highest rate of punctures in the gloves was observed in the first and second fingers of the non-dominant hand. CONCLUSION: The damage to 5% of the gloves is highly significant, with a potential role in occupational hazards. The higher rate of leaks in the prosthodontists’ group compared to other groups demands for greater prudence in this field. The high rate of leaks in the first and second fingers of the non-dominant hand requires more attention to this area during daily practice.