Surface Roughness on Cementoenamel Junction After Rubber-Dam Clamp Application.

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Conservative Dentistry

Background:

• Rubber dam isolation is crucial in restorative dentistry.
• Retraction clamps are used to secure the rubber dam, but their impact on tooth structure is not fully understood.
• Surface integrity of the cementoenamel junction is vital for long-term tooth health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of different rubber-dam clamp types and application durations on cementoenamel junction (CEJ) surface roughness.
• To compare the surface morphology changes induced by polymer and metal clamps.
• To determine if application duration influences the degree of surface alteration.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-four extracted human molars were subjected to three types of rubber-dam clamps (polymer, flat-edge metal, serrated-edge metal) applied for 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours.
• Surface roughness was measured using a profilometer before and after clamp application.
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to assess surface morphology changes.
• Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in surface roughness were observed for all clamp types after 1 and 2 hours of application.
• The serrated-edge metal clamp showed a significant increase in roughness even after 30 minutes.
• SEM analysis revealed progressive microstructure defects, including cracks with metal clamps, as application time increased.
• The polymer clamp exhibited less surface alteration compared to metal clamps, especially at 1-hour application.

Conclusions:

• Rubber-dam clamp application can cause damage to the CEJ, with the extent of damage being dependent on the clamp type.
• Metal clamps, particularly those with serrated edges, pose a higher risk of surface damage compared to polymer clamps.
• While increased application duration generally leads to more surface alterations, the clamp type is a more significant factor in determining the severity of damage.