Product Evaluation

While it may seem like an easy task, finding the perfect exam glove can be a real struggle for dental clinicians. Far too often, practitioners encounter gloves that tear too easily, cause hand fatigue, or fit poorly. The demands of dental procedures require a glove that combines exceptional comfort and fit with a secure grip and high tactile sensitivity. With the added concerns of patient safety and allergy risks, the search for a glove that ticks all the boxes can be quite complex.

Ansell takes complexity out of the equation with its MICROFLEX XCEED XC-310 nitrile gloves, which cater to the demands of dental professionals. Ergonomically designed to reduce hand fatigue, the gloves offer maximum comfort, protection, durability, and tactile sensitivity with sizes to fit diverse needs.

Previously frustrated by poor glove quality and gloves that tear when donning, Dr. Anthony Fusco said his disappointment has all but disappeared after wearing the MICROFLEX XCEED gloves for several weeks. “The gloves felt very comfortable, provided a much better fit, and did not rip when donning,” he shared, adding, “They had a noticeably more durable feel to them vs generic glove manufacturers.”

As he continues to wear the MICROFLEX XCEED gloves in the future, Dr. Fusco looks forward to a frustration-free glove experience.

Comfort and Reduced Allergy Risk

For maximum comfort, MICROFLEX XCEED gloves are lightweight and formulated to feel 18% softer on the skin than competitors.* They are ergonomically designed to reduce hand fatigue with proprietary ERGOFORM technology that supports musculoskeletal health. The skin-friendly formulation is accelerator-free for low dermatitis potential and reduced risk of type IV allergies. They are free of latex to prevent instances of type 1 latex allergies.

“I want a comfy glove that doesn’t tear, and this one is like wearing velvet on your hands,” shared Dr. Michael Long. Hygienist Kim McClure appreciated the lightweight feel and the thinness of the gloves and said, “Donning and doffing were easy.” Karensa Heflin, RDH, MS, said the gloves improved her “excessively dry hands by 85%.” In addition, she noted, “The dry white patch­es on the back of my hand disappeared, and my hands felt soft coming out of the glove despite us­ing hand sanitizer at least 4 to 5 times per patient.”

Fit and Sizing

The gloves are available in 5 sizes—XS (5.5-6), S (6.5-7), M (7.5-8), L (8.5-9), and XL (9.5-10). “I love these gloves! They fit perfectly!” declared Dr. Christina Do, who previously had trouble finding gloves to fit her extra-small hands. “They were easy to use and work with, and there was no excess at my fingertips.” Also searching to “find the perfect fitting glove,” Dr. John Crary said, “MICROFLEX XCEED fits well and goes on easily without leaving spaces at the fingertips.”

“MICROFLEX XCEED fit extremely well and there wasn’t fatigue due to constrict­ing blood flow,” said Dr. Fusco. The gloves “fit great” for hygienist Shannon Aikman, and Susie Rodriquez, RDH, reported “a more comfortable fit” but said her hands got warm when wearing the gloves.

Calling the gloves “comfortable with a nice smooth fit,” McClure said, “It was long enough to cover the cuff of my disposable gown.” She also said the size medium fit like a small in other brands and suggested, “In my opinion, you’d want to size up.” A few other evaluators agreed that the fit was tight compared to the same size in other glove brands.

Durability and Tactile Sensitivity

For extra durability and stretch to protect against rips and tears, the gloves are made of thin nitrile material that’s 18% stronger than competitors’ gloves.* Textured fingers enhance grip, and a beaded cuff offers rip-free donning.

“These gloves give you peace of mind that they won’t rip or tear,” said Dr. Jeanne Spence. “While very strong and durable, they are also very thin and provide increased tactile sensitivity.” McClure noted “very good grip and tactile sensitivity,” while Dr. Kathy Mortazavi suggested improved tactile sense. Aikman found that “none of the gloves ripped,” and Heflin said, “They don’t fall apart as you pull them out of the box.” Dr. Crary declared, “They are a quality made glove that doesn’t tear easily.”

Overall Satisfaction

The MICROFLEX XCEED gloves “worked great for all applications, and it was much easier to perform procedures with these gloves,” concluded Dr. Do. Heflin said she’s “pushing our company to switch to these gloves,” and Dr. Long called the quality “head and shoulders above the house-brand nitriles we used.”