subject: Rubber Dam [print this page] We might recommend the use of a rubber dam in several dental procedures where it is helpful to keep your teeth dry and isolated, allowing us to do a better job in a more sterile environment. The dam is a thin, protective sheet of rubber that covers and protects your mouth, teeth, and the back of your throat. Held by a clamp and frame, it is perforated, allowing the teeth to be worked on to protrude through the rubber dam. Rubber dams are often used when performing most inlay/onlay, sealants, filling, and root canal procedures.
Normally made of latex, non-latex dams are also available for patients who are allergic to latex. If you have never had a rubber dam before, it often feels a little awkward, but it is extremely rare that we find someone who is unable to adjust to the use of a rubber dam. Many people say they actually feel more relaxed when a rubber dam is used because they don't have to concentrate on keeping their mouths open, or worry about the position of their tongues.
Some of the reasons we might use a rubber dam include the following: to keep a tooth dry, to remove the distraction of a tongue, bleeding gingival, to lessen a strong gag reflex, or to keep bacteria-laden saliva from re-infecting the tooth.
A rubber dam protects you like a safety net. Your throat is protected from debris, vapors, and tiny instruments being swallowed or inhaled. While improving accessibility and visibility of the working area, a rubber dam avoids any unnecessary contamination when doing such procedures as root canals, where the saliva may be contaminated with bacteria. It also keeps your teeth dry and isolated, protecting the area being worked on. It is also a great aide in helping to prevent your gag reflex from being triggered, allowing your dentist to see better and work more efficiently.
Normally your teeth are bathed in saliva, however, many of the adhesives used in dentistry when restoring your teeth require a clean, dry environment to bond properly. The moist air you exhale can actually cause new fillings to have weaker bonds by increasing the humidity in the working area.
To put this device in place, it is first positioned loosely on a special frame. One or more holes are punched in the rubber dam, corresponding to the location of the teeth that are going to be worked on.
To hold the device in place, we slide a small clamp over one of your teeth and then secure the dam to the clamp. After all of the dental work is completed, the dam is removed.
Technology and your dentist working together to maintain your oral health
It may feel a little bit strange at first, but it adds another layer of protection for you. It lets us work faster and more effectively, and it comes off quickly and easily. The use of this helpful apparatus is yet another technological advance that allows us to provide you with the best quality and service possible in our quest to maintain your oral and dental health.
