dental dam Flashcards
what is a dental dam
technique for isolating the dental operating area from other regions of the mouth and upper gi and respiratory tract areas
list the usage and benefits of a dental dam
airway protection
medico legal
field isolation
health and safety
soft tissue protection
improved access
improved vision
aerosol reduction
chemical isolation
environmental protection
communication
what is the primary function of dental dams
airway protection
what are dental dams used for
all operative procedures
quality assurance
patient comfort
patient management
what are some situations where a dental dam would not be used
some operative procedures
impression taking
surgery
airway patency
patient management
recording the shade of the tooth
what are some materials dental dams can be made of
nitrile
neoprene
neolon
vinyl
latex
what is used for retaining the dental dam in the mouth
clamps
cord
wedges
floss
what is all the equipment used for dental dam placement
the dam
punch
clamps
clamp forceps
frame
additional retainers
floss ligature
sealants
why is floss attached to the clamps for posterior dental dam placement
so if the dam breaks we can retrieve any pieces of the clamp
what are floss ligatures used for
inverting the dam to give a good seal
why may you floss through the interproximal contacts before placing a dam
to detect possible obstructions such as rough inter proximal restorations, and ensure a plaque free proximal surface
how many holes should be punched in the dam
six
how should the dental dam be stretched
vertically
why is it important not to wind the floss around the bow of the clamp
this makes it impossible to remove the floss once the dam and clamp are in place, and the wound floss ends run through the hole in the dam, acting as a wick for saliva into the isolated area.
what are the two means of placing the dam using a clamp
fit a wingless clamp and place the dam over it
apply a winged clamp and the dam together
