Brief advantages and disadvantages of rubber dam

1. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
OF RUBBER DAM
V
Muhammad Musab
Sheth

2. RUBBER DAMS
•A rubber dam is a thin sheet of latex rubber
used by dentist to isolate the tooth or teeth
from the fluids (SALIVA) of the mouth during
dental procedures.
•Rubber dam held in place by clamp and

3. RUBBER DAM

4. ISOLATION
 By term isolation we means to isolate
our dental procedures by fluids of mouth
such as saliva
 There are different types of isolation
Cotton roll isolation
Saliva ejectors and high volume ejectors
Throat shield

5. COTTON ROLE ISOLATION

6. SALIVARY EJECTORS

8. ADVANTAGES OF ISOLATION
USING RUBBER DAM
A dry and clean operating field
Access of visibility by eliminating other structures
such as tongue, lip cheek and mainly saliva
Protection and retraction of soft tissues
Prevention and inhalation of foreign materials
Aid to patient management

9. ADVANTAGES
Aid to cross infection control by reducing
spread of microorganisms
Helps in working for dentists
Minimization of mouth breathing during
inhalation sedation procedures

10. DISADVANTAGES
Usage is low amongst private practitioners
Time consuming and patient objection
Cannot be used in case of malpositioned teeth
Patient can no longer speak easily
Children suffering from asthma, some upper
respiratory infection or mouth breathing problems
Claustrophobic feeling
Sensitive for some hours after clamp has been
removed

11. BEST WAY TO IMPROVE PATIENT
ACCEPTANCE TO RUBBER DAM ARE
Give concise explanation regarding the benefits of
rubber dam prior to commencing root canal therapy.
Increase the skill of applying rubber dam with more
hands on training
Reduce the rubber dam application time by
practicing it more.

12. REFERENCES
MCCBABE Dental Materials
PHILIPS of dental sciences