Learning objectives
- Familiarization with clinical manifestations of allergic reactions to latex in the oral cavity, including the use of rubber dressings of the rubber dam system.
- Mastering the methods of prevention and treatment of allergy to latex products.
Control questions
- The concept of latex and features of latex products.
- Clinical manifestations of latex allergy.
- Safety precautions when working with rubber dam sheets of the rubber dam system.
Lesson content
An overview of rubber dam sheets would not be complete without a working knowledge of rubber dam and latex allergies. The incidence of hypersensitivity reactions to natural rubber latex has been increasing since the 1980s. This is due to the increasing number of latex instruments and materials in the medical field and their widespread use by medical professionals. The FDA attributes this increase to a tenfold increase in the use of latex gloves and, in the dental field, latex rubber dams. According to the literature, about 1–6% of the world’s population is allergic to latex. The prevalence among health care workers and others whose work involves contact with rubber products is about 10%.