Abstrakt
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that recently developed rubber dam systems (OptraDam(R) Plus and OptiDamTM) are faster and easier to handle, and that the quality of isolation is not decreased. The rubber dam systems were applied in standard conditions on a dental simulator in several model clinical situations.
Times of preparation, application and removal were measured and the quality of isolation was evaluated. The median time of rubber dam placement was 51 s (Q1=38 s; Q3=79 s).
The shortest median time of application was with OptiDamTM (42 s), followed by a conventional rubber dam (53 s), and finally the longest was with OptraDam(R) Plus (58 s). The median volume of fluid remaining in the isolated space after 5 minutes was 9.5 mL (Q1=8 mL; Q3=10 mL).
The largest median volume of remaining water was with OptiDamTM (10 mL), followed by a conventional rubber dam (9.5 mL) and the least with OptraDam(R) Plus (8.5 mL). The afore-stated hypothesis about the advantages of modern rubber dam isolation systems was accepted for OptiDamTM, but rejected for OptraDam(R) Plus.
The results could contribute in decision-making about the choice of rubber dam system.