Effect of Examination Glove Coverage on Smartwatch Contamination During Dental Hygiene Procedures

Background: The dental clinical environment is highly vulnerable to contamination from microorganisms in patients' blood and saliva, posing a risk of cross-infection.Aerosols from the oral cavity remain airborne and concentrate around the operator and assistant.As smartwatches become more multifunctional, their use during dental procedures is increasing.This study surveyed smartwatch usage during dental hygiene procedures and analyzed the degree of bacterial contamination on smartwatch surfaces based on the type of gloves worn.Methods: A survey was conducted among dental hygienists to investigate smartwatch ownership and usage during dental hygiene care.Smartwatch exposure outside the examination gloves was observed by the researchers during dental hygiene student clinical practice.In addition, bacterial contamination on smartwatch was assessed by comparing surface bacterial counts based on examination glove coverage conditions.Results: Among the clinical dental hygienists who participated in the survey, 60% owned a smartwatch, and 80% of them reported wearing it during dental hygiene care.Most students participating in clinical practice were observed to be wearing smartwatches.Most of their smartwatches were not covered by examination gloves.The number of bacteria on smartwatch surfaces increased after dental hygiene procedures regardless of examination glove coverage.However, the increase was statistically significant when the smartwatch was not covered, whereas bacterial contamination was significantly reduced when the smartwatch was covered by examination gloves.Conclusion: To reduce the risk of cross-contamination in the dental clinic, it is recommended to avoid wearing smartwatches during procedures or to minimize their exposure by fully covering them with examination gloves.