A rubber dam commonly used when treating patients is a protective tool which is also known as a rubber barrier. However, when treating patients with braces this rubber dam may not be suitable. Studies show that the human mouth contains at least 500 different types of bacteria. Although when a person takes complete oral care some of the bacteria are bound to remain in the mouth at all times. Most times this is not a problem to worry about but it may get out of control when undergoing dental treatments. It may happen that during the dental treatment, the exposed infected tooth may allow the bacteria to venture into other open spaces. This is where the rubber dams come into the picture. Visit Blanc Dentaire Montreal where the patients find comfortable, clean, and stress-free procedures.
What is a rubber dam?
A dentist usually makes use of a thin latex sheet that covers the mouth which helps to isolate the treatment area and not affect the surrounding area. For example, if there is root canal treatment for a single tooth the dentist will only make holes in the tooth to be treated and the rest of the mouth is covered with the sheet. This ensures that any blood, medicine, and cleaning of the decayed tooth will not transmit to other areas. The dentist isolates the area by anchoring the sheet with a dental clamp. It is a metal or plastic frame that holds the rubber dam in place by stretching it out to ensure it fits properly. The teeth are flossed before placement to help in sliding the dam in the right place. Some of the patients get latex-free dental dams if they are allergic.
The primary offerings of Rubber dams:
- Controls spread of Infection: The American Dental Association throws light on a study that states that the risk of bacterial infection is reduced by 90% with a Rubber dam in dental procedures. This unique method makes the oral environment sterile and favorable for dental procedures. It protects the oral cavity from the treatment area and prevents contamination by saliva, blood, and bacteria. With the isolation technique, the bacteria from the infected tooth can’t reach other teeth or gums.
- Improved Visibility and Access: Dental treatments are bothersome mainly due to their inaccessibility. The dentist must be able to see the area to be treated clearly to perform the surgery, the rubber dams are known for their advantage of isolating the infected area. This helps in providing better visibility to the dentist and thereby makes treatments successful. It increases the chances of precise and efficient procedures and a high patient satisfaction rate. As per the International Journal of Dentistry, research supports that dental procedures with rubber dams have a 30% higher accuracy rate.
- Maintaining cleaner and dry treatment area: Some of the many dental procedures including composite restorations and endodontic treatments require a dry and moisture-free treatment. This aids in the higher success of the procedure. With The isolation method, the rubber dams provide the absolute requirement to the dentist and the patient. They control the moisture effectively which ensures that the treatment and the materials used in the procedure have optimal conditions to bond. It prevents contamination of the bonding materials as well. Studies prove that rubber dams increase the bond strength in composite restorations by 40%.
- Reducing aerosols: The aerosols generated during dental procedures pose a higher risk to the patients as they contain pathogens. The rubber dams are known to reduce aerosol production by 70% indicated by the Journal of Dental Research. Airborne contamination is dreadful and rubber dams minimise the spread by covering the entire oral cavity making it a safe dental procedure for the patient and the staff.
To wrap up:
The rubber dams have multiple purposes in dental care. The dentist covers the mouth with a rubber dam to stop bacterial spread and isolating treatment area which adds to the success of the treatment.
