Moving towards a latex-free environment: advice from experiences in US dentistry

Most dental practitioners now routinely wear gloves while treating patients. The most commonly used types of gloves contain latex. Latex is also present in other personal protective equipment, such as masks, eyewear and clinic gowns. Increased use of such items, unfortunately, has been linked to adverse skin and mucous membrane reactions. Latex proteins and chemicals associated with the material's production have been implicated. Exposure to such chemicals has also resulted in allergic responses in dental patients. There is a strong movement in the USA to limit exposure to latex in healthcare environments, including dentistry. The aim of this article is to describe past, present and future efforts to create low-latex or latex-free environments.