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Influence of the rubber dam on proximal contact strengths
Paul Johann Rau1, Thomas Pioch, Hans-Jörg Staehle
1Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Purpose:
The study tested the hypothesis that the application of a rubber dam influences the reconstruction of proximal contact strengths, while the corresponding contra-lateral teeth are not affected.
Methods:
Seventy-four systemically and periodontally healthy subjects in need of a direct posterior composite restoration were treated with the use of a rubber dam. The proximal contact strengths (PCS) were electronically evaluated by measuring frictional forces during removal of a 50.0 +/- 5.0 microm-thick straight metal band.
Results:
Proximal contact strengths significantly increased from 2.26 +/- 1.45N before to 3.83 +/- 2.34N after application of the rubber dam; whereas, the variation of PCS at the corresponding contacts in the contra-lateral quadrant remained within the intra-examiner variance of +/- 0.2N. Upon removal of the rubber dam, there was a statistically significantly drop in PCS from 3.54 +/- 1.87N to 2.31 +/- 1.35N. Again, there was only minimal change in the contra-lateral quadrant. It was concluded that application of the rubber dam affects proximal contact strengths.
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