What Is a Dental Dam, when is the Use and will I Need One?

What Is a Dental Dam, when is the Use and will I Need One?

While visiting your dentist for routine checkup or treatment, you might have seen your dentist placing a rubber sheet inside your mouth. Naturally, you must have wondered as to what it was, and what is it used for. The latex or rubber sheet which your dentist uses is known as a dental dam or a Kofferdam. It is actually six-inch sheet made of latex or rubber, which is used to ensure patient safety during certain dental procedures.

The Dental Dam

According to the American Association of Endodontics (AAE), “A dental dam is a latex or nonlatex sheet with a hole punched in the material to allow placement around the tooth during the endodontic (and other dental) procedure(s)”.

How is the Dental Dam Placed?

Depending on the number of teeth which have to be exposed during treatment, your dentist will make holes within the dental dam sheet by using special hole punches. The dental dam is placed over the teeth such that the crowns of the teeth which have to be treated remain completely exposed, while all the other teeth are protected by the dam. Your dentist will use rubber dam clamps to hold the sheet in place where the teeth have been exposed.

When is a Dental Dam Needed During Dental Treatment?

You may not need to wear a dental dam for every type of dental treatment. Instead, your dentist will use a dental dam only during certain conditions, such as:

·         Root Canal Treatment – this is a procedure in which your dentist will insert very small instruments inside your tooth to remove the infected pulp. A root canal procedure is an intricate task which requires significant expertise and skill. Therefore, to isolate the tooth for treatment, dentists use a rubber dam which allows them clearly to visualize the tooth under consideration. Moreover, a dental dam will also prevent accidental inhalation of the endodontic instruments by the patient.

·         Restorative Procedures – during certain dental restorative procedures such as veneers, dentists require isolation of the damaged teeth, so that there is a clear view available for restoring them. The rubber dam also prevents the saliva from contaminating the operative site and affecting the longevity of the restoration.

·         Dental Prosthetics – dentists also use rubber dams when they are preparing teeth for the placement of certain fixed appliances like the crowns and bridges. The rubber dam helps them in tooth isolation, and also provides them a clear view of the operative site.

What are the Benefits of a Dental Dam?

You might think “why should I undergo the extra inconvenience of getting a rubber dam placed during my treatment?”. Well, here are a few reasons why using a rubber dental dam during your treatment is a good idea:

·         Prevention of Cross-contamination – when your dentist places a rubber dam, he or she is actually ensuring that the harmful bacteria are unable to enter the surgical or operative field. As a result, the operative site not only heals quickly but the longevity of the restorative procedure is also increased. Furthermore, it also prevents the dentist and staff from possible exposure to HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne infection.

·         Enhanced Safety – as discussed earlier, a rubber dam serves as a safety net for the patients and prevents the accidental inhalation or ingestion of small dental instruments, which can otherwise lead to a medical emergency. Also, a rubber dam prevents the spread of aerosol splatters, which is generated during certain dental procedures, to spread within the oral cavity.

·         Improved Visibility – a rubber dam allows your dentist to isolate the teeth which have to be restored, thereby allowing a clear field of view which helps the dentist in completing the treatment in a shorter duration.

A rubber dam is actually a device which is placed primarily to ensure your safety. So, the next time your dentist informs you that he or she will have to use a rubber dam, you should consent to it. This will not only improve your safety but will also allow your dentist to provide better service in a shorter time.

Keep smiling and stay safe!