Dental Dam

Question 1

what is the dental dam

Answer 1

technique used for isolating the dental operating area from other regions of the mouth and the upper GI tract

Question 2

what is the main benefit of the dental dam

Answer 2

airway protection

Question 3

what are the other benefits of the dental dam

Answer 3

	Medico-legal
	Field isolation
	Health and safety
	Soft tissue protection
	Improved access
	Improved vision 
	Aerosol reduction
	Chemical isolation
	Environmental protection 
	Communication

Question 4

what are the disadvantages of the dental dam

Answer 4

 Impossible to take impressions
 Some types of surgery can be difficult
 Shade recording – always do this before placing the dam as the teeth will dry out and change colour in a very short period of time

Question 5

what are the possible materials of dental dams

Answer 5

 Nitrile – what we mostly use
 Neoprene
 Neolon
 Vinyl
 Latex – always check patient regarding NRL allergy

Question 6

what do retainers do

Answer 6

help hold the dam in place

Question 7

what are the retainers

Answer 7

clamps
cord
wedges
floss

Question 8

what is the equipment used for dental dam

Answer 8

dam
punch
clamps
frame
additional retainesr
floss ligature 
sealants

Question 9

why should we keep the elastic cord short

Answer 9

prevent traumatizing the gingiva

Question 10

when using a prob to take off floss ligatures what must we always ensure

Answer 10

that we point the probe away from the gingival margin

Question 11

why must we invert the edges of the dam into the sulcus

Answer 11

otherwise acts like a valve which allows saliva and crevicular fluid through (use floss)