Product Evaluation

PATTERSON

TactileGuard Ultra Next Generation Gloves

TactileGuard Ultra Next Generation provides excellent protection while maximizing comfort, strength, and tactile sensitivity

It’s hard to get excited about exam gloves. Or is it? Perhaps the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced you to consider personal protective equipment like gloves, masks, and lab coats in a much more appreciative light. Or maybe, like hygienist Cathleen Alty, you’ve always been very particular about your gloves and value an excellent glove now more than ever.

Alty insists that any glove she dons is “strong but flexible, with substantial thickness but not too thick; has textured fingertips for good grip when hands are wet; and fits snugly but not too tight with no wrinkles or pulled areas.” That might seem like a tall order, but Alty found that Patterson’s TactileGuard Ultra Next Generation Gloves met all those criteria, calling them “hands down, the best gloves I have ever used.” She explained, “These gloves match all my criteria perfectly: stretch, strength, thickness, tactile sensitivity, grip, weight, textured fingertips, and a perfect fit. [I give them an] 11 out of 10 on all counts.”

Manufactured for Patterson Dental, TactileGuard Ultra Next Generation Gloves are not made with natural rubber latex and are powder-free. They provide excellent chemical and barrier protection, while offering lightweight comfort, easy donning, excellent durability, and superb tactile sensitivity with textured fingertips to maximize grip. These features were put to the test by Alty and a group of hygienists and dentists, who ultimately deemed the gloves a DPS Best Product.

Comfort & Fit

Available in an ocean blue color and in 5 sizes (XS, S, M, L, and XL), TactileGuard Ultra Next Generation Gloves “were just the right weight, thickness, and fit,” said J. Brian Hamby, DMD. Calling the gloves comfortable to wear, hygienist Robin Mitchell said, “The silky smoothness is great,” and Jody Ebert, RDH, said, “The gloves were comfortable and didn’t cause sweating or reaction to my skin.” Citing “how light they felt” as his favorite feature, Adam Beno, DMD, described the gloves as having a “great fit and soft feel with durability and ease of donning.” Pointing out that “sometimes small gloves are too long in the fingers or too narrow and confining,” Katherine Moreno, RDH, noted, “[TactileGuard was] very easy to put on and had a comfortable fit.” Dr. Isaac Perle said, “Gloves can be uncomfortable, but these were fantastic. I highly recommend.”

Donna Chuchla, RDH, was looking for gloves that fit her small hands and said TactileGuard was “a perfect fit!” As a loyal Patterson glove wearer for years, Chuchla said, “These are an improvement; they’re lighter and fit better; by the end of the day my hands weren’t tired from straining against the material.” Hygienist Donna Shewbert shared, “The fit was superior to several of the brands I tried. I liked the feel as well as the fit, which makes my job easier when I’m not fighting the fit of a glove on my fingers.” When asked to suggest improvements, Dr. Beno said he’d like a “better fit and seal along the wrist or cuff,” explaining that the XL gloves he tested were somewhat loose. “The gloves were excellent, fit very well, but were not constricting, [and I had] no sweating,” said Donna Grzegorek, RDH.

“They were lightweight yet very durable, went on easily, and caused no hand fatigue.”

Donna Chuchla, RDH, Maitland, FL

Ease of Donning and Durability

Compared to other gloves, Moreno said the TactileGuard gloves were “very easy to put on and remove,” which decreased time spent with patients. Dr. Beno said they were “easy to put on, and I didn’t tear any while doing so and didn’t waste time retrieving another glove when one would tear.” Mitchell said, “The gloves were thin but strong,” and Dr. Haley Tate said, “They seem more durable with very few, if any, tears during donning.” Stating that she loves these gloves, Chuchla explained, “They were lightweight yet very durable, went on easily, and caused no hand fatigue,” and Jenna Hebert, RDH, added, “They didn’t tear, which is a big plus!”

Tactile Sensitivity

According to Dr. Beno, the gloves are “thin yet durable and provide great tactile sense,” and Dr. Hamby agreed that the “thickness allowed for good tactile sensitivity and feel and handled instruments well.” Stating that the gloves were easy to use, Mitchell said, “Hand motions were improved. The thinness helped with donning and the silky smoothness helped with tactile sensitivity.”

Overall Satisfaction

“I would use these gloves again and recommend them,” shared Dr. Hamby, who said his assistants liked the gloves too. In fact, all clinicians said they would recommend TactileGuard Ultra Next Generation to their colleagues. “Great gloves are needed for high-quality work. These fit the bill,” concluded Grzegorek. “They fit well, don easily, provide tactile sensitivity, and are durable. These gloves stood the test of time. I would highly recommend them.”

Takeaways

• Powder-free & not made with natural rubber latex

• Excellent chemical and barrier protection with lightweight comfort

• Durable and easy to don without tearing

• Superb tactile sensitivity with textured fingertips to maximize grip