Negative effects of powdered latex gloves in clinical dentistry

With the advent of CDCs "universal precautions" and OSHA's bloodborne pathogen standard, the number of health-care workers wearing latex gloves has increased dramatically in the law few years. Reports of irritation, contact, and allergic reactions to powdered latex gloves in both medicine and dentistry are on the rise as well. However, other problems related to powdered gloves and their effect on clinical dentistry are just beginning to be addressed. One recent study demonstrated that the starch used as a lubricant on latex rubber gloves significantly reduced the shear bond gloves significantly reduced the shear bond strength of etched porcelain to etched enamel with a resin adhesive system by nearly 40%. Question also arise as to the proper handling of dental implants and the effect that powdered gloves may have on their success based on the negative effects of post-surgical foreign body granulomas reported in the medical community.