Rubber dam refers
to a soft latex sheet that is attached to a contaminated
tooth, or teeth, prior to treatment that is meant
to prevent further contamination of the tooth
through saliva which contains bacteria. It is
most commonly used in root canal procedures, filling,
and inlay/onlay installations. The rubber dam
is held by a clamp and frame and is a legal requirement
for procedures that require its use.
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| Benefits |
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Limits bacterial laden splash and splatter
of saliva and blood. |
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Restricts drowning response during rinsing the
mouth in a procedure. |
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Serves as a barrier, so the throat is protected
from debris and tiny instruments from being swallowed
or inhaled. |
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Isolates and protects the area that needs to be
worked on. |
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Improves accessibility and visibility of the working
area. |
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Avoids unnecessary contamination through infection
control. |
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Helps to protect the gag reflex area from being
triggered. |
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It protects the lips and cheeks by keeping them
out of the way. |
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Helps to keep the tongue out of the way of the
work area so it is not harmed. |
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Many of the new materials used in dentistry today need a dry clean environment for tooth colored fillings to be successful. The moist air exhaled from your mouth can increase the humidity in the working area causing weaker bonds leading to weaker fillings. |
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Keeps teeth saliva free while performing a root
canal so the tooth does not get re-contaminated
by the bacteria that is in saliva. |
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Patien diesn't have to concentrate on keeping
their mouth open or positioning their tongue out
of the work area. |
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Gives you peace of mind that objects will not
fall into the patient's throat. |
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| When it may be
not be appropriate |
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If a tooth is too short to hold a clamp. |
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The tooth not fully erupted. |
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Not enough area to clamp to. |
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Patient's inability to handle their own oral secretions,
e.g., a person with Parkinson's disease may have
a diminished ability to swallow and therefore be
unable to handle saliva accumulation under the rubber
dam. |
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| Procedure |
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The dam is placed loosely on the frame to allow
for easier placement in the mouth. |
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The clamp is placed and secured around the tooth. |
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Starting from the front, the rubber dam is guided
between the teeth with floss. |
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Wedges are placed between the teeth to protect
the gum tissue and stop the dam from getting caught
up in the equipment. |
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The dentsl treatment is performed on the tooth. |
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The rubber dam is removed by removing the wedges,
clamp, dam and frame. |
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