Latex allergy in an orthognathic patient and implications for clinical management

A 19-year-old girl with mild asthma had had 16 months of orthodontic treatment as part of the joint orthodontic/orthognathic approach to her 9.5 mm overjet. At the time of banding her second molars she developed latex protein allergy as a reaction to the operator's non-sterile powdered latex gloves. She also gave a history of allergy to other substances as well as of eczema. The patient was confirmed as allergic to latex protein by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) for IgE, requiring precautions be taken during further orthodontic procedures as well as during the subsequent orthognathic surgery for the underlying Class II skeletal pattern.