The effect of the use of dental gloves on mixing vinyl polysiloxane putties.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the delay in setting times that occurs with selected brands of gloves or residual powder from those gloves on eight popular brands of vinyl polysiloxane putties. MATERIALS AND METHODS The putties were mixed and rolled into a round 3-inch-long cylinder without gloves on hand, with gloves on hand, and with powder residue on hands, immediately after degloving. The end of a cement spatula was drawn over the putty at various intervals with a force of 3 ounces. The setting time was recorded to be when no permanent indentation of the putty occurred. RESULTS All materials set within 5 minutes without gloved hands. Eighty-eight percent of the putties set within 5 minutes when mixed with Friction Grip Powder Free and Medical Gloves on hands. When mixed with Pharmaseal gloves on hands, 50% of the putties set in 5 minutes. When mixed with Micro-Touch Latex Medical Gloves, 38% of the putties set in 5 minutes. When the putties were mixed with the residual powders left on ungloved hands, the same results occurred with the above-mentioned gloves. With residual powder on hands from Natraflex and Medical Exam Tex, 25% of the putties set in 5 minutes. CONCLUSIONS Gloved hands interfered with the setting of more brands of putties than did residual powder on hands immediately after degloving. There are gloves available that do not interfere with the setting of most of the vinyl polysiloxane putties.