Use of gloves among dentists in Sweden--a 3-year follow-up study

150 community dentists and 200 private general dental practitioners in southern Sweden were asked about the frequency of glove use in dental practice and related issues. This was a 3-year follow-up study. 76% of the community GDPs and 29% of the private GDPs used gloves regularly in all patient treatment. The group consisted mostly of female and younger dentists. Dentists never using gloves at all were older, male private practitioners. Difficulties to adjust using gloves and mostly non-risk-clientele were the two main reasons for dentists not to use gloves regularly. Skin complaints related to glove use seems to have increased from 1988 to 1991. Cross-infection-risk by HIV from patient was assessed as low although the main reason for most dentist to use gloves regularly was the contemporary debate about AIDS and HIV in media.