The attitudes of dental interns to the use of the rubber dam and obstacles to its use

Abstract

BackgroundThe rubber dam is one of the best tools for tooth isolation and infection control in the dental field. Our aim was to evaluate the attitudes toward the use of rubber dams by dental interns in Riyadh Dental Colleges (RCsDP) and determine the barriers to their use. MethodsA self-administered questionnaire was designed and used for data collection. 150 questionnaires were distributed by hand to the dental interns of RCsDP over a period of two weeks. Information sought included the attitudes toward and obstacles or barriers to the use of the rubber dam, the time needed to apply the rubber dam, and the patients' allergic history to the rubber dam. ResultsOf 150 questionnaires distributed, 150 were completed and returned (response rate = 100%). Of those, 46.7% were males and 53.3% were females. In general; (43.3%), interns strongly liked the use of the rubber dam and the rest (46.7%) liked the use of the rubber dam. The majority of respondents liked to use rubber dam in direct restorations more than in indirect restorations and 46.7% strongly liked to use it in posterior teeth for composite restoration. “Strongly like” is the most dental intern's attitude to endodontic treatment whether in posterior teeth (73.3%) or anterior teeth (68.7%). 66.7% of interns asked their patients if they had allergy to latex prior to the use of the rubber dam. The main obstacle for both males and females was child behavior (mean rank about 7). The time is taken to apply the rubber dam was less than 5 min in most cases. ConclusionMost dental interns prefer to use rubber dams in the general dental field and are enthusiastic to use it in future.