Dental dams or rubber dams are rectangular sheets of latex used in dentistry, specifically endodontic therapy. They are also used during sexual activities as a safe sex technique.
In dentistry
A dental dam, also known as in Europe as a "Kofferdam" (from German) or digă(romanian word), is used mainly in endodontic treatment and when putting fillings into teeth. They are thin squares of latex rubber. For those with latex allergy, they are also available in silicone. The main function is to isolate the tooth being treated from its environment, in particular from the bacteria in the oral cavity. The rubber dam is held over individual teeth or groups of teeth by appropriate rubber dam clamps or threads (ligatures) along the edge of the gum. The tooth crown stands out from the rubber dam through individual holes made by a hole punch. This permits a clean and dry operative field and enables treatment of the appropriate tooth without contamination from blood or saliva. Routine use of dental dams is not always appropriate because of some difficulties: for instance communication with the patient is strongly reduced and the patient may feel restricted. However for endodontic procedures it is considered mandatory. For adhesive dentistry procedures involving bonding dental composite it is to be encouraged as the operative field must avoid moisture contamination in order to get maximum bond strength from restorative material to tooth substance. Glass ionomer cement is affected by moisture during its setting reaction and thus rubber dam is considered advisable during placement.
For oral sex
When held over the vulva or anus, an unpierced, intact dental dam protects both the person performing oral sex on those body parts and the person receiving it from potential harm from sexually transmitted diseases.
