Rubber dam shown to be child friendly

The use of rubber dam in general dental practice for restorative treatment is widely underused, particularly for paediatric patients. In fact, despite its mandatory use for certain procedures in the majority of dental schools, many clinicians have not used rubber dam isolation since their undergraduate training. Previous studies have revealed a variety of reasons for its low uptake. These include difficulty of use, high equipment costs, time constraints and poor patient acceptance. Contrary to the findings of this month's research summary, many dental practitioners believe that patients do not like rubber dam.

Rubber dam, when used correctly, has numerous advantages. Probably the most widely accepted of these is the ability to achieve excellent moisture control, which is paramount for the long-term survival of modern adhesive materials. Fissure sealants, for example, are highly moisture sensitive and failure to keep the working environment dry and free from saliva can result in rapid failure. Adequate isolation with only cotton wool rolls and a saliva ejector can be particularly challenging in young patients with active tongue movement or excess saliva. Despite this, the most recent guidance from the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry does not mention the use of rubber dam for fissure sealant placement. It is, however, widely accepted by specialists in paediatric dentistry, that rubber dam should be placed, wherever possible, for restorative procedures.