Critchley Emma, Pemberton Michael N
University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester, M15 6FH, UK.
Heliyon. 2020 May 5;6(5):e03889. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03889. eCollection 2020 May.
To evaluate the current routine use of latex gloves and latex containing dental dam in UK general dental practice.
A questionnaire was disseminated to 89 general dental practitioners (GDPs) in June 2017. The survey concerned their current, routine use of latex gloves and latex-containing dental dam in general dental practice. In addition, monthly sales figures of gloves classified by material, were obtained from a UK dental supply company, for 2015-2017.
The questionnaire response rate was 84 (94%), of whom 90% reported using non-latex (non-sterile examination) gloves for their routine dentistry. The majority were using nitrile gloves. All GDPs surveyed would use examination gloves for routine extractions, and 76% would use examination gloves for surgical extractions. The majority (75%) reported using non-latex dental dam. Sales of nitrile gloves were significantly higher than for latex gloves, with a continuing trend in the reduction in volume of sales of latex gloves.
The majority of GDP's now routinely use non-latex containing gloves and dental dam in their clinical dentistry. Nitrile gloves are predominantly used. Examination gloves are used for straightforward extractions, with many practitioners also using them for minor oral surgery. Sales of latex containing gloves are continuing to decrease.
The routine use of latex-containing products in UK dental practice is low and likely to reduce further, with on-going benefit for the dental practitioner, latex allergic patients and prevalence of latex allergy in the general population.
评估英国普通牙科诊所目前乳胶手套和含乳胶牙垫的常规使用情况。
2017年6月向89名普通牙科医生（GDPs）发放了一份问卷。该调查涉及他们在普通牙科诊所中目前对乳胶手套和含乳胶牙垫的常规使用情况。此外，还从一家英国牙科用品公司获取了2015 - 2017年按材料分类的手套月度销售数据。
问卷回复率为84份（94%），其中90%报告在日常牙科工作中使用非乳胶（非无菌检查）手套。大多数人使用丁腈手套。所有接受调查的GDPs在常规拔牙时会使用检查手套，76%在外科拔牙时会使用检查手套。大多数（75%）报告使用非乳胶牙垫。丁腈手套的销售量显著高于乳胶手套，乳胶手套的销售量呈持续下降趋势。
大多数GDPs目前在临床牙科工作中常规使用不含乳胶的手套和牙垫。主要使用丁腈手套。检查手套用于直接拔牙，许多从业者也将其用于小型口腔外科手术。含乳胶手套的销售量持续下降。
在英国牙科实践中，含乳胶产品的常规使用比例较低且可能会进一步降低，这将持续造福牙科从业者、乳胶过敏患者以及普通人群中乳胶过敏的患病率。
