People who are allergic to latex may find an hour after they have been to the dentist, that they suffer from a runny nose, scratchy throat or the arms are covered with red hives.
An allergy is a hypersensitivity to a material. It is common to have allergies to different materials and since latex is a natural protein elicits an allergy in many people. If you have this allergy,it is recommend that you avoid direct contact with any materials that contain latex.
In the dental practice the most common use of latex, is the examination gloves. If an allergic person comes into contact with the latex, usually it will cause a rash in the skin around the mouth, a runny nose or itchy eyes, but it can also trigger more severe symptoms, including asthma and a difficulty to breathe.
We routinely screen patients for a latex allergy and we use nitrile gloves and latex free masks to avoid any discomfort that may result due to an allergy. Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006, for further details about latex allergies and the way to protect you.