Disposable Gloves

DISPOSABLE GLOVES

Medical & Non-Medical

Nitrile Gloves

Meets or exceeds all FDA regulations.
5 mil. Natural Rubber for strength and puncture resistance.

Vinyl Gloves

Ambidextrous
Comfortable

Latex Gloves

Acute sensitivity
Superior Strength

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Gloves...But Were Afraid to Ask

It is important to understand the differences between latex, nitrile, and vinyl with regard to their barrier properties, material strength, and potential weaknesses. Most dental procedures involve constant hand and finger movements which may weaken some synthetic materials. Also, specific dental-related chemicals, compounds, biocides, and chemical agents may weaken puncture resistance and glove strength, which can, in turn, compromise personal safety. If barrier integrity is compromised, exposure to pathogens (e.g., HIV, hepatitis) may occur.

The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) has developed glove standards based on performance specifications. Latex, nitrile and vinyl have different strength, elongation, and thickness requirements, which shows how different they are from each other. See Table 1 for performance standards.

Table 1. Performance Standards for Different Glove Materials

Glove Types

Nitrile
Vinyl
Latex

- Exam

- Surgical

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Material	Applicable ASTM Standard	Thickness	Strength*	Elongation**
Latex	D3578	0.08 mm	14 MPa	700%
Nitrile	D6319	0.05 mm	12.5 MPa	500%
Vinyl	D5250	0.05 mm	9 MPa	300%

	Latex*	Nitrile	Vinyl
Durability	Most durable; Highly resistant to punctures and tears; Good resistance to many chemicals**	Excellent durability; Highly resistant to punctures and tears; Effective against a wide range of chemicals**	Limited durability; Increased potential for punctures and tears; Of limited use with chemicals**
Indications for Use	Excellent choice for high-risk situations where exposure to bodily fluid may occur; Procedures requiring unrestricted hand and finger movement	Good latex alternative for high-risk situations; Excellent synthetic alternative for latex- sensitive individuals	Synthetic alternative for low-risk, short-term procedures; Procedures with limited exposure to body fluids

* How much pressure can be applied before rupture

** The length (%) a glove material stretches beyond its original length before it breaks

Appropriate glove selection requires that the user evaluate the conditions under which the glove will be used. It is important to understand and evaluate each glove material's durability as a barrier and its performance limits. The performance limits should be weighed against the perceived risk level. The following questions, for example, should be asked when choosing a glove material. Will there be contact with bodily fluids and the potential for bloodborne pathogen exposure? What is the hazard level? What is the procedure being performed? Will the procedure involve chemicals? Will the chemicals dissolve the glove material? Table 2 provides an overview suggesting limiting conditions for latex, nitrile, and vinyl gloves.

Table 2. Comparison of Glove Materials

Reaction	Can Be Caused By	Specific Cause	Susceptible Population
Irritant contact dermatitis (Irritation)	Latex, nitrile, or vinyl	Chemicals, powder, soaps	Everyone
Allergic contact dermatitis (Type IV)	Latex, nitrile, or vinyl	Chemicals, powder, soaps	Only those with genetic predisposition
Immediate hypersensitivity (Type I)	Latex	Latex proteins	Only those with genetic predisposition

* Warning: Products containing natural rubber latex may cause allergic reactions. Individuals who are allergic to natural rubber latex should avoid these products.

** Request permeation test data from the manufacturer. The concentration of the involved chemical and the glove's thickness affect permeation.

Another important point to remember is that all three glove types can potentially initiate glove-associated reactions. The types of reactions and their etiologies vary. See Table 3 for an overview of glove-associated reactions.

Table 3. Glove-Associated Reactions

Use of powdered gloves can also affect staff members and patients. In addition to drying out our hands and causing skin irritation, the glove powder can also absorb chemicals and natural rubber latex proteins present on the glove's surface. When donning and removing gloves, we and our patients can be exposed to these chemicals/proteins through direct contact and/or by inhaling the airborne powder. This can result in breathing difficulties, potentially contributing to occupational, irritant or allergic asthma. Powder can also directly affect invasive dental procedures and provide nutrients to support microbial growth. This, in turn, can contribute to infection, trigger inflammation, and delay wound healing. Finally, glove powder left on contact surfaces can contribute to cross-contamination, something we always want to avoid in patient treatment.

In summary, when choosing a glove, we should evaluate the anticipated risk level (high, medium, low, or no risk), review the type and duration of procedure to be performed, examine the equipment to be used, and anticipate the potential for exposure to bodily fluids. We must ask ourselves whether a glove type will provide an effective barrier, whether it will maintain an intact barrier under repeated hand movement, and whether the glove can withstand chemical exposure.

The bottom line is that latex gloves are recommended for high-risk situations involving potential pathogen exposure. Nitrile is an excellent alternative to latex because it exhibits comparable barrier qualities; in addition, it is an excellent choice for latex-sensitive individuals. Vinyl gloves are appropriate for most low-risk, short-duration tasks. To reduce the potential for powder-associated complications, powder-free latex or synthetic gloves should be considered for all dental procedures.

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