Prior to donning gloves, what must be done with hands?

Prior to donning gloves, it is essential to wash hands after removing all jewelry to ensure that the skin is free from contaminants and that any microorganisms are eliminated. Hand hygiene, which includes washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, is a key aspect of infection control in dental practice. Removing jewelry is important as it can harbor bacteria and may prevent effective cleaning of the hands.

This practice aligns with guidelines for maintaining aseptic techniques in clinical settings, where the presence of jewelry might also cause difficulties in providing a proper seal with gloves and could potentially tear or damage the gloves. Handwashing ensures that hands are clean, reducing the risk of cross-contamination between the dental practitioner and the patient after the gloves are applied.

Other options, while they may involve hand preparation, do not specifically focus on the importance of removing jewelry and effectively washing hands, which is a fundamental step in infection prevention.