Dental & Laboratory

What usually goes wrong

Dental and laboratory work asks two opposite things of a glove: enough sensitivity to work by feel, and enough barrier to handle blood, solvents and reagents. A glove chosen for one usually disappoints on the other.

How this range answers it

Nitrile is the usual compromise: the published lines here describe good stretch and tactile sensitivity close to latex, with textured and finger-textured surfaces available for grip on wet instruments. Latex still has the edge on pure feel and is the cheaper material, which is why it survives in practices whose allergy policy allows it.

Vinyl has a specific laboratory use the old site calls out directly: silicon-free, with antistatic properties, which is why it appears in electronics production as well as in examination. It is also the least elastic of the three, so it is the wrong choice where the glove has to stretch and stay intact.

Where to start

• Disposable Gloves