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Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | November 2012 A21 Ad Whilecaringfortheirpatients,dentaland health care professionals are constantly exposed to bodily fluids that may carry viruses and other infectious agents. It is therefore critical that the gloves they use providethebestpossiblebarrierprotection. Many types of gloves are available to- day, but it is important to know that not all gloves have the same barrier capability, de- pending on the type of material used. For example, natural rubber latex gloves have long been acknowledged for their very ef- fective barrier properties, while non-latex gloves, such as vinyl (PVC), have inferior barrier capability as shown by numerous studies. Other synthetic gloves, such as nitrile and polyisoprene, perform much better than vinyl, but are more costly, especially polyisoprene gloves. Using gloves with inferior barrier capability could expose both the patients and users to undesirable/ harmful infections. Malaysia is the world’s largest medical gloves exporter (latex and nitrile). Both quality and user’s safety are of top priority to the nation’s glove industry. To this end, a qualitycertificationprogram(theStandard Malaysian Gloves or the SMG) has current- ly been formulated for latex examination gloves. All SMG-certified gloves must com- ply with stringent technical specifications to ensure the gloves are high in barrier ef- ‘Barrier protection’ critical in medical gloves INDUSTRY NEWS fectiveness and low in protein/low allergy risks, in addition to providing excellent comfort, fit and durability — qualities that manufacturers of many synthetic gloves are attempting to replicate. Furthermore, latex gloves are green products, derived from a natural and sustainable resource, and are environmentally friendly. (You can find more at www.smg-gloves.com and www.latexglove.info).Theuseoflow-protein powder-free gloves has been demonstrated by many independent hospital studies to vastly reduce the incidence of latex sensiti- zation and allergic reactions in workplaces. More important, latex allergic individu- als donning non-latex gloves can now work alongside their co-workers wearing the improved low-protein gloves without any heightened allergy concern. However, for latex-allergic individuals, it is important that they use appropriate non-latex gloves that provide them with effective barrier protection, such as quality nitrile and poly- isoprene gloves. Selecting the right gloves should be an educated consideration to enhance safety of both patients and users. For decades, gloves made in Malaysia have been syn- onymous with quality and excellence, and they are widely available in an extensive array of brands, features and prices. They can be sourced either factory-direct (www. mrepc.com/trade and click “medical de- vices”) or from established dental product distributors in the U.S. (Source: Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council)tions, time and cost. It is vital the patient understands the results as well as potential concerns associated with the procedure. Failure to set patient expectations (includ- ing setting them too high) significantly increases the likelihood of a less than com- pletely satisfied patient. Whitening can be contraindicated; when discoloration is due to disease, conditions requiring end- odontic therapy or dark coloration from restorations. Other disqualifiers include periodontitis, severe gag reflex and failing restorations. Documentation of the discus- sion is critical and should include the is- sues discussed and the patient’s answered questions. Pre-treatment photographs and existing tooth shades should be considered part of the documentation. Indicating how whitening sensitivity will be addressed helps the patient feel more comfortable. Options for managing sen- sitivity include; fluoride products (Philips Fluoridex), non-steroidal anti-inflamma- tories (NSAIDS) and amorphous calcium phosphate (Philips Relief ACP). Reassure the patient that sensitivity is transient and manageable. Patients who have regular thermal sensitivity should be informed of the increased likelihood of sensitivity. Caution that whitening results will not last forever. Consumption of darkly colored berries, tea, coffee and red wine will discol- or teeth over time as will normal aging. A discussion of whitening maintenance including additional Zoom in-office and/or Zoom at-home treatments (Fig. 2) provide an opportunity to examine the patient for restorative and cosmetic needs, verify peri- odontal health and continue to establish trust and mutual respect. The benefits of offering whitening to patients are immea- surable. There are no metrics for increased confidence, satisfaction and happiness as- sociated with a whiter, brighter smile. The benefits to the practice are significant. The average national fee for chairside whiten- ingis$525(January2011survey).Thetypical dental practice sees approximately 400 pa- tients per month. If only 1 percent of those patientshaveZoomwhitening,therevenue associated with four patients per month is $2,100 or $25,200 annually. Three-percent patient participation yields $6,300/month, $75,600/year; 6 per- cent yields $12,600 or $163,800 annually. Dentalprofessionalscanoffertheirpatients safe,effectivetooth-whiteningoptionsthat provide consistent results while reducing the incidence of side effects. Philips Zoom WhiteSpeed provides these benefits. EditorialNote:Acompletelistofreferences is available from the publisher. “ WHITENING, page A20