Product Evaluation

In a typical day, how many times does a dental professional don gloves for exams and proce­dures? It’s most likely an impressive number, es­pecially when gloves need to be changed frequently due to contamination, poor fit, discomfort, or an outright tear. Even without doing the math, it’s clear that these annoying glove changes result in wasted time and inventory, and more than a little frustration.

Two dentists who can relate are Dr. Cynthia Leung, who has problems finding gloves to fit her “unusually large hands and long, thin fingers,” and Dr. Jeffrey Greene, who needs a glove that offers both comfort and sweat reduction during long procedures.

Fortunately, help has arrived in the form of Patterson Dental’s Chloroprene Exam Gloves, offering clinicians all the benefits of natural rubber latex with none of the allergens. Made from soft, hand-conforming polychloroprene synthetic polymer, these non-latex gloves offer unsurpassed comfort, exceptional fit, easy and tear-resistant donning, and optimal grip and tactile sensitivity.

“What a pleasant surprise!” said Dr. Leung, after finding that “the gloves fit better than most.” She explained, “The finger portion is long enough without pull or sag, and the hand portion fits well without binding tight.” Equally enthusiastic was Dr. Greene, who found the gloves “comfortable with a silky feel.” And because his hands are not sweaty or fatigued, it’s now easy for him to change gloves an hour into long crown and bridge procedures.

Packaging, Donning, and Durability

With Patterson’s Flat Stack Technology, the gloves are packaged using a fully automated flat stacking process for easy, one-at-a-time dispensing. Donning is made easy by the gloves’ exceptional strength and elasticity, and the color selection (aqua, black, and pink) is pleasing to both clinicians and patients.

“The easy-open box and arrange­ment of the gloves made for simple access and removal,” shared Dr. Greene. “They are very easy to dispense and rarely stuck together,” said Lisa Juliana, RDH, and hygienist Donna Shewbert shared, “Every glove in the box was in one piece, with no missing fingers or bands/cuffs that came off while donning.” On the other hand, Sue Afeltra, RDH, said the gloves some­times stuck together when removing from the box.

“Being able to don the gloves without restriction of fit improves my chairside comfort,” noted Dr. Leung. Describing the gloves as “very easy to don after washing and drying my hands,” Dr. Charles Liu added, “Unlike neoprene, they were surprisingly easy to don, even when my hands weren’t completely dry.”

Calling the Patterson Chloroprene Exam Gloves “a good non-latex option with good tear resistance,” Dr. Richard Pyun said they didn’t tear when his assistant placed them over her ring. Naming “the grip and thickness of the glove” as her favorite features, Dr. Pooja Saroha said the gloves offered “a better experience that saved chair time.”

Fit & Comfort

Praising the elasticity and durability of the gloves, Shewbert said, “They fit well in the fingers and across the back of the hand.” Dr. Ashish Arya found them “very, very comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time” and didn’t perspire in them. “They felt like latex gloves without the allergies/disadvantages,” said Dr. Liu, and Afeltra enjoyed “a good, snug fit for petite hands.”

Pleased with the “sleek” look of the black color, hygienist Kaylee Allen said, “The grip was comfortable through appointments, and they didn’t fatigue my hands or get slippery.” For Dr. Greene, “These gloves let me do long procedures without feeling that my hands are tired.” Dr. Pyun said they could be “a little more stretchy” to facilitate donning when his hands are sweaty.

Grip and Tactile Sensitivity

The Patterson Chloroprene Exam Gloves feature a textured finish for easy gripping in both wet and dry conditions. Along with comfort and fit, Juliana identified tactile sensitivity as a favorite feature. “The tactile feel is as if you don’t have a glove on, and I love that.” Dr. Saroha enjoyed “better grip, especially with surgical procedures,” and hygienist Jennifer Gugliotti detected a slight coating on the inside of the gloves that helped when her hands began to sweat. “The gloves have an even amount of texture and make it easy to grasp instruments. They didn’t get slick when exposed to water or saliva,” said Shewbert.

Overall Satisfaction

Evaluator feedback about comfort, fit, tactile sensitivity, ease of donning, and tear resistance was exceptionally positive. “They fit well, were easy to put on, and I didn’t feel hand fatigue while wearing them,” shared Gugliotti. “They made working easier and more comfortable” for Juliana, and Kim Williams, RDH, concluded, “I felt confident in the quality of the glove.”