Rubber Dam

General Dental Treatment, Isle of Wight

Nowadays the use of rubber dam is on the increase; for good reasons.

The main benefits to patients are as follows:

• It stops the mouth filling with water during use of the dental drill.
• It stops bacteria from the saliva entering treated teeth.
• It prevents the risk of small objects being dropped and entering the windpipe.
• It reduces the amount of mercury swallowed or its vapor inhaled during the removal of amalgam fillings.
• It stops tooth preparations becoming contaminated by mouth fluids, so making fillings last longer.
• It greatly improves the chances for success for root-fillings.

Rubber dam isolation was invented in the US in the nineteenth century. It has been in constant use globally since. In England, its popularity diminished in the 50’s, as conditions at that time encouraged dentists to work with speed in mind, and so abandon anything considered ‘non-essential’, regardless of the potential advantages for patients.

For technical reasons, it is not always possible to place rubber dam but at Avenue Road Dental Practice we do so whenever possible. To find out more on this subject, contact Philip Lewis here, or simply call 01983 759567.