How to Use the Rubber Dam

Rubber dams are small, stretchable sheets of rubber that are primarily used by dentists. Dams can keep debris from falling into the throat of patients who may be unable to swallow. They can also be used to keep a specified area dry during a dental procedure or highlight an area that needs to be worked on. There are three main dental dam techniques currently being used by dentists which include the winged, wingless and rubber first.

Things You'll Need

• Dental pics
• Dental floss
• Scissors
• Clamp
• Dental dam frame

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Instructions

Wingless

• 1

  Locate the tooth that needs to be worked on. Clean the tooth with dental picks and floss, to ensure that all plaque is removed from the tooth.

• 2

  Place a clamp on the specified tooth, so that the clamp edges are positioned on both the right and left edge of the tooth. Gently push on the top of the clamp to make sure that the clamp holds firmly against the side of the tooth. Remove the clamp.

• 3

  Place the dam over the patient's mouth and mark the location of the tooth. Cut a small hole in the dam in the appropriate location with a pair of scissors. Slide the tooth through the hole. Place the clamp back on the tooth.

• 4

  Slide the dental dam frame behind the dam. Secure the dam to the frame. Slide dental floss on the front and back of the tooth and gently push the edges of the dam down around the tooth.

• 5

  Drip a small amount of water into the patient's mouth and ask if any water has entered the mouth. If the patient answers yes, wrap floss around the base of the tooth and the rubber dam and perform the water test again. If water is still leaking, replace the dam.

Winged

• 6

  Locate the tooth that needs to be worked on. Clean the tooth with dental picks and floss, to ensure that all plaque is removed from the tooth.

• 7

  Place a clamp on the specified tooth, so that the clamp edges are positioned on both the right and left edge of the tooth. Gently push on the top of the clamp to make sure that the clamp holds firmly against the side of the tooth.

• 8

  Place the dam over the patient's mouth and mark the location of the tooth. Cut a small hole in the dam in the appropriate location with a pair of scissors. Slide the tooth and clamp through the hole. Pull the wings of the clamp above the edges of the dam. Inspect the edges under the wings of the clamp to make sure there is no gum tissue or moisture inside the wings.

• 9

  Slide the dental dam frame behind the dam. Secure the dam to the frame. Slide dental floss on the front and back of the tooth and gently push the edges of the dam down around the tooth.

• 10

  Drip a small amount of water into the patient's mouth and ask if any water has entered the mouth. If the patient answers yes, wrap floss around the base of the tooth and the rubber dam and perform the water test again. If water is still leaking, replace the dam.

Rubber First

• 11

  Locate the tooth that needs to be worked on. Clean the tooth with dental picks and floss, to ensure that all plaque is removed from the tooth.

• 12

  Place a clamp on the specified tooth, so that the clamp edges are positioned on both the right and left edge of the tooth. Gently push on the top of the clamp to make sure that the clamp holds firmly against the side of the tooth. Remove the clamp.

• 13

  Place the dam over the patient's mouth and mark the location of the tooth. Cut a small hole in the dam in the appropriate location with a pair of scissors. Slide the clamp into the hole. Slide the clamp and the dam over the tooth. Pull the wings of the clamp above the edges of the dam. Inspect the edges under the wings of the clamp, to make sure there is no gum tissue or moisture inside the wings.

• 14

  Slide the dental dam frame behind the dam. Secure the dam to the frame. Slide dental floss on the front and back of the tooth and gently push the edges of the dam down around the tooth.

• 15

  Drip a small amount of water into the patient's mouth and ask if any water has entered the mouth. If the patient answers yes, wrap floss around the base of the tooth and the rubber dam and perform the water test again. If water is still leaking, replace the dam.