Latex gloves, dental personnel

HEMA is a known contact allergen [70,71], but despite this there do not seem to have been any reports of dermatitis among dental personnel, either dentists or then-assistants [61]. Latex gloves are inadequate to protect the skin because they are permeable to HEMA [79]. The volatility HEMA may also cause problems with these materials, and inhalation of the vapour should be avoided [61]. There are anecdotal reports of dental personnel developing allergies to resin-modified glass-ionomers, but again there seem to be no detailed reports or case studies in the literature about this. 

The recent dramatic increase of occupational contact dermatitis in dental personnel may be ascribed to (1) the common use of (powdered) latex gloves, (2) the introduction of potent contact sensitizing and irritating materials, such as new (meth)acrylates and (3) lacking and/or insufficient protective measures taken. 

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