Latex allergies in dentistry: recognition and recommendations

Latex allergies have been increasing in the health-care setting since the introduction of universal precautions in the early 1980s. Given the number of sensitized individuals, and assuming this number will rise with increasing exposure to latex, an efficient latex protocol should be implemented in dental offices. Patients should be screened by taking a detailed medical history, and precautions should be used when treating individuals at high risk for developing latex allergies. These precautions should be continued until an allergist has verified the patient's allergic status, and ruled out latex allergy as a concern.