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[The rubber dam, a problem for the dentist or the patient?]
Gunter Slaus1, Ilse Minoodt, Peter Bottenberg
1Département COPR, Ecole de Medecine Dentaire, VUB Service d'endodontie, Clinique dentaire VUB, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussel.
Although the advantages of rubber dam use are obvious and rubber dam use is established standard of care in many disciplines, its application in general dental practice is low. To assess whether a negative attitude of patients might be the case, 304 patients were asked by means of a questionnaire comments on their treatment under rubber dam. The majority of the patients experienced no hinder, excepted for rubber dam restricting the communication with the dental practitioner. Women experienced more often than men anxiety, whereas smokers more frequently experienced discomfort.
Although the advantages of rubber dam use are obvious and rubber dam use is established standard of care in many disciplines, its application in general dental practice is low. To assess whether a negative attitude of patients might be the case, 304 patients were asked by means of a questionnaire comments on their treatment under rubber dam. The majority of the patients experienced no hinder, excepted for rubber dam restricting the communication with the dental practitioner. Women experienced more often than men anxiety, whereas smokers more frequently experienced discomfort.