Dental Dam

1. ORMP 1000 - Dental dam
Ms Ralephenya
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2. Class exercise
2. What is a dental dam?
4. Identify the following materials.
6. Practice to place the material.
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3. Dental dam (Phinney and Halstead,
2003)
 Method of isolating teeth before the
placement of restorations.
 Placed after applying local anesthetic.
 Placed to isolate one tooth or one or
more quadrants.
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4. Dental dam placed on tooth
(Google)
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5. Advantages of dental dam use
(Phinney and Halstead, 2003)
 Greater visibility because of the contrast between
tooth & dental dam material
 Greater accessibility to operating field by retracting
the gingiva, tongue, cheeks & lips
 Control of moisture to keep area dry to assist in
etching, bonding & restoring
 Protection for pt from swallowing or aspirating debris
during the procedure
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6. Advantages of dental dam use (cont.)
(Phinney & Halstead, 2003)
 Protection of gingiva from acid etch
 Improved patient management & decreased
operating time
 Protective barrier for patient
 Decreased amount of contaminated aerosol
exposure
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7. Contraindications to dental dam
(Phinney and Halstead, 2003)
 Physical conditions
 Concerned pts
 Conditions in oral cavity
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8. Dental dam materials (Phinney and
Halstead, 2003)
 Dental dam punch  Dental dam clamp
 Forceps  Dental dam
 Frame  Floss
 Dental dam napkin  Lubricant
 Tucking  Stabilizing cord
instruments  Inverting or
 Scissors tucking instrument
 Widgets ligature
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9. Preparation for placing dental
dam (Phinney & Halstead, 2003)
 Educating patient
 Determining area to be isolated
 Dividing the dental dam
 Punching the dental dam
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10. Important issues to note (Phinney
and Halstead, 2003)
 Common errors when punching the
dam
 Placement & removal procedures for
the dental dam
 Placing the dental dam for the
pediatric pt
 Alternatives to full dental dam
placement
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11. References
• Phinney, D.J. and Halstead, J.H.
(2003) Delmar’s dental assisting: a
comprehensive approach. New York:
Delmar Thomson Learning
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