If we can put a man on the moon, what else can we do? Ever since 1969, when Neil Armstrong took that “one small step for man,” this intriguing question has been completed with everything from “cure the common cold” and “end world hunger” to “make a tire that never goes flat.” But for Drs. Stephen Rosenberg and Ana Niehoff, the question might best be completed with “make a comfortable, durable exam glove with excellent flexibility, a better fit, good stretch, and less hand irritation.”
While not quite as lofty an accomplishment as the lunar landing, dentists and hygienists might argue that Henry Schein has taken “one giant step” with its CRITERION N300 Nitrile Exam Gloves. Combining robust protection with exceptional fit and comfort, this ultrathin glove provides clinicians with excellent tactile sensitivity and dexterity. As a bonus, its eco-friendly packaging includes 300 gloves per box to reduce waste and save space.
“These gloves are comfortable and durable with excellent flexibility,” said Dr. Rosenberg. “They have an excellent tactile feel, and it was easy to grip and manipulate instruments, supplies, and materials. Their excellent fit and texture allowed comfortable function and efficient performance of procedures and tasks without the nuisances caused by loose, slippery, or poorly fitting gloves.”
Equally impressed was Dr. Niehoff, who described the gloves as “perfect, especially when donning them when my hands aren’t completely dry.” Most of all, she “loved the fi t” and called them “perfect for my hands.” She added, “There’s good stretch without being too thin. They didn’t rip at all but were thin enough that I couldn’t tell the difference.”
Comfort and Fit
The dentists and hygienists who evaluated the CRITERION N300 Nitrile gloves were especially impressed with the comfort and fit. Designed with a beaded cuff and 2.0-mil/0.05-mm thickness at the palm, the gloves come in sizes extra-small, small, medium, large, and extra-large.
Hoping to find a comfortable glove that fits perfectly without being too tight or loose, Dr. Mitchell Pasenkoff said these gloves were “very comfortable and decreased hand fatigue.” Dr. Rosenberg shared, “These gloves were used very comfortably in a wide range of procedures and aren’t stiff and slippery as some gloves can be.”
Describing them as “a good fitting glove,” hygienist Michelle Everton “liked that they came up higher on the wrist than other brands so I didn’t have to continually pull them up.” When asked to suggest improvements, one hygienist recommended longer fingers and a dentist suggested a “better configuration for women’s hands.”
Grip, Dexterity, and Tactile Sensitivity
CRITERION N300 Nitrile gloves have textured fingers for enhanced grip. The ultrathin design ensures maximum tactile sensitivity without sacrificing strength.
“The gloves provide great tactile sensitivity and don’t feel thick,” said hygienist Tara Cabral, and Dr. Pasenkoff was most impressed with the “finger dexterity and comfort.” Diana Carr, RDHAP, said she would recommend the gloves to her colleagues because of their “increased tactile sensitivity, thin design, and comfort.”
Donning/Doffing and Durability
Designed for optimal tear resistance, the CRITERION N300 Nitrile gloves are chlorinated for reduced friction and easy donning. Searching for a thin, tear-resistant glove with good grip and tactile sensitivity, hygienist Susan Afeltra found that CRITERION N300 Nitrile fit the bill. “They don’t tear, so I never had to waste a glove,” she said, but she felt they were sometimes difficult to don, especially after using hand sanitizer. Describing the gloves as “very thin but still strong,” Carr said they were “easy to take on and off without sticking to my sweaty hands or tearing.”
Durability and grip were “great” for Dr. Agnes Knobloch, who said the CRITERION N300 Nitrile gloves performed better than her current gloves, and Cabral was pleased that “the gloves are strong and don’t rip easily when donning.” Explaining that “most gloves that are thin enough for my liking end up ripping very easily over my sharp ring,” Niehoff told DPS, “Not only did these gloves fit super well, but they also didn’t catch or rip when sliding over my ring. They also still slid perfectly when my hands got warm/sweaty.” Acknowledging that “other gloves would tear as they were being removed,” Everton said these gloves did not tear at all.
Overall Satisfaction
CRITERION N300 Nitrile Exam Gloves are available in 3 eye-catching colors —ice blue, electric blue, and black —in each of the 5 size options. Afeltra summed up her experience by saying, “A good fit and tactile sensitivity make my work proceed seamlessly,” and Everton concluded, “I am very satisfied with these gloves.”
