Australian Dental Research Fund Trebitsch Scholarship. An assessment of the permeability of dental protective gloves.

Several overseas studies have documented the presence of defects in unused latex and vinyl gloves. Since such defects compromise the barrier protection afforded by gloves, information regarding the frequency and site of defects which occur during manufacture is of direct clinical relevance. This study utilized a four-stage testing procedure to evaluate defects in 13 brands of gloves which are used commonly in dental practice in Australia. Macropores in unused gloves were a significant problem, with 10 brands containing 1 per cent or more defective gloves. In addition, variations in electrical conducitivity, signifying microporosity or inconsistencies in thickness, were also observed. These findings indicate that there is room to improve further the quality of protective gloves.