Assessing Glove Integrity in Dental Procedures
Author Information
Author(s): Alsaegh Mohammed Amjed, AlSiraj Mohammed Farooq, Alsadoon Ahmed Naji, Soufi Omar, Mahmoud Okba, Varma Sudhir Rama
Primary Institution: Ajman University
Hypothesis
The study aimed to evaluate the integrity of non-sterile, powder-free latex gloves used by dental students in various dental specialties.
Conclusion
The study found a high rate of glove perforations during dental procedures by undergraduate students, especially in the right thumb and index finger.
Supporting Evidence
- Perforations were identified in 72 cases (40.7%) of gloves.
- The most common locations for perforations were the right thumb and right index finger.
- There were no statistically significant differences in glove integrity loss among different dental specialty procedures.
- Participants with left-hand dominance exhibited a significantly higher perforation rate compared to those with right-hand dominance.
- The anticipation of glove integrity matched the actual integrity in 100 cases (62.9%).
Takeaway
Dental students often have holes in their gloves while working, especially on their thumbs and index fingers, which can spread germs.
Methodology
This cross-sectional study involved dental students from Ajman University who provided gloves during various dental specialty procedures, with glove integrity assessed using a modified water leak test.
Potential Biases
The study only examined gloves used by dental undergraduate students without comparing them to those used by licensed and specialist dentists.
Limitations
The study was conducted at a single dental hospital and only evaluated latex examination gloves from one company.
Participant Demographics
The participants included 94 males (59.1%) and 65 females (40.9%) who were fourth and fifth-year dental students.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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