Dental local anaesthetics and latex: advice for the dental practitioner Joanne McEntee Dental Update 2024 39:7, 707-709.
Authors
JoanneMcEntee
BPharm, MRPharmS
Medicines Information Pharmacist, North West Medicines Information Centre and National Dental Medicines Information Service, Pharmacy Practice Unit, 70 Pembroke Place, Liverpool L69 3GF, UK
Natural rubber latex (NRL) is present in many medical products, including disposable gloves, adhesive tape and bungs in medicine vials. People sensitized to NRL are at risk of developing allergic reactions, which can present with delayed symptoms such as a localized red itchy rash, or with immediate symptoms such as itching of the skin and eyes, sneezing, bronchospasm or anaphylactic shock. People sensitized to NRL should avoid contact with all products that contain it, either in the product itself, in the packaging or introduced during the manufacturing process or storage. This paper highlights the implications of latex allergy in patients for dental healthcare staff, and provides a list of local anaesthetic preparations used in dentistry in the UK which are latex free.
Clinical Relevance: All dental staff need to be aware of latex allergy and know where to find information on latex content of dental local anaesthetics.
Article
Natural rubber latex (NRL) is a strong, flexible, hard-wearing and protective material used to make many medical products, including disposable gloves, adhesive tape, bandages, dental dams, bungs in medicine vials, syringes and venepuncture-related equipment.1,2 Between 1% and 6% of the general population are potentially sensitized to proteins in NRL and at risk of developing an allergic reaction after contact or after inhaling powder containing NRL.3,4 Allergic reactions to NRL include a type IV reaction, resulting in a red itchy rash in the area in contact with NRL that can become widespread or, less commonly, a type I reaction presenting as immediate hypersensitivity with itching of the skin and eyes, sneezing, bronchospasm or anaphylactic shock.2,3 Type I reactions occur immediately after exposure to NRL in sensitized individuals and can be life-threatening; type IV reactions usually occur 6–48 hours after exposure and may be in response to chemicals used in the rubber manufacturing process, rather than NRL itself.3 NRL can also cause irritant contact dermatitis, but this is not a true allergy.3
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Dental Update and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:
