Effects of dental medicaments on examination glove permeability

Dental care providers wear gloves for all clinical procedures. This study was designed to assess the intactness of examination gloves after exposure to commonly used agents. Finger portions from latex and vinyl examination gloves were sealed to syringe barrels and exposed to alcohol, eugenol, a surface disinfectant, cavity varnish, or commercial mouth wash. Tritiated water was introduced into the finger-tip portion, which was suspended in a vacuum flask containing distilled water. Aliquots of water were withdrawn from the flask at intervals of 5 minutes to 8 hours and analyzed for transfer of radioactivity through the glove tip. Treatment with agents such as eugenol and cavity varnish resulted in significant leakage after 5 to 15 minutes. Although some agents apparently quickly damaged the gloves, leaks developed in untreated gloves with time. Results suggest that visibly intact gloves may have developed microleaks and that changing gloves during long clinical procedures may be indicated.