The elimination of cross-infection in dental practice--a 5-year follow-up.

A survey in 1983 showed that 16% of general dental practitioners in the Lothian Region wore operating gloves when treating patients; 9% wore them continually and 7% only when performing dento-alveolar surgery. Twelve per cent replied that they would not consider wearing operating gloves and 72% stated that they might consider their use. A similar survey has now been completed 5 years later, involving practitioners in the Lothian and Borders regions. This shows that 163 (97%) of the 168 practitioners who replied now wear operating gloves; 51% restrict their use to the treatment of 'potentially infectious patients' and dento-alveolar surgery; 46% wear them continually. The main objections given to wearing gloves continually were loss of tactile sensation (67%) and cost (13%). The most difficult task to perform wearing gloves was root canal therapy (56%). The majority of practitioners (84%) believed that gloves reduced the dangers of cross-infection. The methods stated to be available for instrument sterilisation in 99.5% of practices were acceptable. This paper proposes that to eliminate cross-infection and protect the dental practitioner, operating gloves should be worn when treating all patients.