Rubber Dam
A thin sheet of latex or latex-free material used to isolate one or more teeth from the oral environment during dental procedures, controlling moisture and contamination.
Full Definition
A rubber dam is placed using a frame, clamp, and punch to create a sterile operative field around the tooth or teeth being treated, protecting the patient from ingesting materials and preventing saliva from contaminating the field. In dental hygiene, references to rubber dam most commonly appear in the context of sealant application, fluoride treatment documentation, or infection control protocols. The term is two words ('rubber dam') and should not be rendered as 'rubberdam' or 'rubber-dam' in standard clinical text. Editors should note the related term 'dental dam', which is also used in infection control contexts outside dentistry.
Usage
Usage note: Write as two unhyphenated words: 'rubber dam'. Note that 'dental dam' is used in sexual health contexts as well as dentistry; verify the intended context when editing.
In Context
- "The clinical protocol specified that rubber dam isolation was mandatory for all direct resin composite restorations." — Clinical protocol document
- "Flag 'rubberdam' as an error; the preferred form in clinical documentation is two words: 'rubber dam'." — Proofreading annotation