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Has it happened to you that the dentist dressed you in a strange rubber "dental dam"? If so, you are seeing the right dentist. An essential part of most dental procedures is the Kofferdam – also called “dental dam” among patients. It is a square latex membrane of diverse colors. It can have different stiffness according to the dentist's preferences and it can even smell of peppermint.
This handy tool should be part of every dental practice and it's not just a trend of recent times. The Kofferdam already existed in a somewhat obsolete in the late 19th century. Its benefits are used not only by dentists but also by patients, and some treatments are almost impossible without one. These are treatments that require a completely dry and "sterile" working environment for their long-term success and effectivity. Of course, such conditions cannot be found in the oral cavity, where the treatment is made more complicated by the tongue, the cheek and the continuous leakage of saliva. In order to make a good white composite filling or to properly treat the root canals in the tooth, dryness is a necessary condition. These treatments are very sensitive to precise technological procedures, and the slightest contamination with saliva results in failure - for example, the white filling will not work long-term and can easily fall out of the tooth.
Another undisputed advantage of the Kofferdam is patient protection, comprehensive insulation and clarity of the working environment. When working with a Kofferdam, there is no unpleasant swallowing, inhalation of parts of the tooth or the filling, or even the endodontic file. There is no need for a saliva ejector to limit the movement of the physician or the patient, who can swallow freely during the procedure.
With special clamps, Kofferdam is attached to either one particular tooth or several teeth next to each other on which the physician is working. By means of a system of special sealing wedges, inserted into the interdental, and metal straps – matrices, and fixation rings, the physician prepares a faultless working environment. Together with a Kofferdam, all these components are the right prerequisites for a functional and aesthetically pleasing result with which the patient will be fully satisfied.
