What is a rubber dam and why is it used?

A rubber dam is a latex sheet that dentists use to isolate a tooth or a group of teeth, either for sterility or to achieve moisture control. The dam has a hole or holes punched in it and is usually held in place by a clamp and stretched out with a rubber dam frame.

Rubber dams are extremely useful for root canals, since they hold the mouth open and protect the patient from accidental aspiration of any of the files or drills used during an endodontic procedure. It also acts like a surgical drape to help keep the canal system free from contamination and helps contain the irrigants used during root canal procedures.

Dentists can utilize rubber dams during operative procedures as well. If they are placed prior to removing a silver filling, they can minimize the amount of metal filings that the patient is exposed to. Instead, the assistant can easily suction them off and none are ingested.

Some dentists use rubber dams during bonding procedures, for which moisture control is extremely important. Although there are other good ways for dentists to achieve moisture control, rubber dam is one of the best!

Occasionally, patients do not like having the rubber dam placed in their mouths and some claim it makes them feel like they can not breathe. Usually cutting a small hole in the dam allows patients the option of either breathing through their nose or mouth and is helpful to patients whom the dam makes 'claustrophobic'.