Outcome 4 - Rubber Dam Isolation Flashcards
(16 cards)
What are you looking for during a clinical assessment of oral cavity before dental dam placement?
Sometimes a dental dam is not able to be placed due to teeth that are malpositioned, partially erupted, severly broken, or missing. /Look for this during assesment. This can make the placement of a dam more challenging or difficult.
Cavity below gingival margin
If a cavity is below the gingival margin, a dental dam clamp may not be able to fit beneath the cavity and the placement of the dental dam may need to be modified.
Dental Dam & Allergies
Review of the patient’s MH before using a dental dam is essential. The use of latex dental dam is contrainidcated in patietns with a known latex allergy.
Connection between food allergies & latex allergies
There is an increased risk of being allergic to latex if the patient is allergic to banana, avocado, passionfruit, kiwi, mango, peach, fig, melon and pineapple. Caution should be used when using the dental dam with these patients.
Dental Dam & Bacteremia
Placement of the dental dam has a medium risk of causing bacteremia due to the possibility of damaging the gingival tissue and causing bleeding. The risk increases with the use of extended prong clamps if the gingiva is pieced, or in the presence of gingivitis and bleeding.
Antibiotic prophylaxis is indicated for use on patients with cardiac conditions who are at risk of infective endocarditis with dental procedures
Clautrophobia & Dental Dam Placement
Occasionally a patient may be too nervouse or claustrophobic to have a dental dam placed. The dental healthcare team can help to reduce these feelings by explaining the use and the steeps in the placement of a dental dam, making sure that the dental dam does not cover the patients’s nose, and arranging alternative ways of communicating with the patient.
Respiratory disease and Dental Dam
Patients who suffer from obstructed nasal passages and respiratory disease that make breating through the nose difficult may not tolerate the dental dam
Eliminate Dental Dam fears
Explaining the benefits and the steps in the procedures can help to eliminate fears caused by something unfamiliar to the patient.
You can explain that the use of a dental dam saves time, ensures that the dental restorations will no be contamininated and that it is safer for the patient.
Benefits of Dental Dam - Timesaving
- acts as physical barrier to moisture and retracts the soft tissue providing maximum access and visibility for the dentist.
-reduced the need for the patient to rinse and spit.
-maintains a clean and dry operating field by keeping the saliva away from the operative site
-field of vision remains clear
-background contrasts the operative site, enhancing visibility
Benefits of Dental Dam - Integrity of Dental Materials
Some dental materials can deteriorate when contaminated by moisture. The dental dam prevents moisture contamination and ensures that the best results are achieved for the patient.
Teeth that are prepared and restored using a dental dam are less prone to postoperative complications from oral fluid contamination.
Benefits of Dental Dam - Saftey
-protects both the dental healthcare providers and the patient
-protects the patient from asirating or swallowing debris or small instruments associated with the procedure
-patient doesn’t have to worry about debris falling into the their throat or tasting debris
-keeps oral mucosa out of the way and prevents injury
-physical barrier between the patient’s oral fluids and the dental healthcare provider thus protecting the team by reducig contact with microorganisms and minimizing aerosol production
Two Step Method of Dental Dam Placement
The clamp is placed first and then the dental dam material is stretched over it
One Step Method of Dental Dam Placement
The dam and the clamp are placed at the same time
After removal of the dental dam..
the tissue in the working area is to be examined for the signs of trauma.
Post Op for Dental Dam
If trauma from the dental dam clamp is evident the patient should be advised and instructed to rinse with a warm saline solution every few hours for a day to promote healing
Post op instructions for the procedure involving the use of a dental dam are subsequently provided to the patient
