Patient and Operator Experiences with Conventional Rubber Dam and OptiDam: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Area of Science:

• Dental materials science
• Clinical dentistry
• Patient safety and comfort

Background:

• Dental isolation is crucial for effective treatment and infection control.
• Conventional rubber dam (CRD) is the established standard for dental isolation.
• Alternative isolation systems aim to improve operator efficiency and patient experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of OptiDam and conventional rubber dam (CRD) isolation systems.
• To evaluate operator and patient perspectives on comfort and ease of use.
• To determine operator preference between the two isolation methods.

Main Methods:

• 114 patients were randomized into CRD or OptiDam groups.
• Dental students performed procedures after standardized instruction.
• Placement time, patient comfort (VAS), and operator comfort were recorded.
• Questionnaires assessed demographics, operator preference, and patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• OptiDam was preferred by 57% of operators, mainly due to ease of use.
• Patients reported significantly greater comfort with OptiDam (P < 0.001).
• Operator-assessed comfort ratings also favored OptiDam (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• OptiDam demonstrates advantages in ease of use, operator preference, and patient comfort.
• OptiDam is a valuable alternative for dental isolation in clinical settings.
• Proficiency in CRD application remains essential as it is the current standard.