This document discusses isolation of the operative field in dentistry. Maintaining a dry field is important for operative procedures. Several techniques and materials can be used for isolation, including rubber dams, cotton rolls, high-volume evacuators, and throat shields. Rubber dams provide the best isolation but also have some disadvantages like taking time to apply. The goals of isolation are moisture control, retraction of soft tissues, and prevention of contamination. Proper isolation improves visibility, protects patients, and allows dental materials to perform as intended.

1. ISOLATION OF THE OPERATIVE
FIELD
Done by:
Mohammed Yaqdhan

2. Operative dentistry can not be
expressed properly unless the
moisture in the mouth is properly
controlled

3. The goals of operative field
isolation are
Moisture control
Retraction
Harm prevention

4. Following components of oral environment
need to be controlled during operative procedure
 Saliva








Tongue
Mandible
Lips & cheek
Gingival tissue
Buccal & lingual vestibule
Floor of the mouth
Adjacent teeth and restoration
Respiratory moisture

5. Advantages
Patient related:
A. Provides comfort to the
patient
B. Protect patients from
swallowing or aspirating
foreign bodies
C. Protect patients soft
tissues by retracting them.
Operator related:
A. A dry clean operative field
B. Infection control
C. Increased accessibility to
operative site
D. Improved properties of
dental materials
E. Improved visibility & less
fogging of mirror
F. Prevents contamination of
tooth preparation.

6. Materials can be used
1. Rubber Dam
2. Cotton rolls & cellulose wafers
3. Throat shields
4. High volume evacuators & saliva ejector
5. Mirror & evacuator tip retractor
6. Mouth props
7. Air Water syringe
8. Cheek retractor
9. Drugs

7. Rubber Dam Isolation
In 1864, S.C.Barnum, a NY city dentist
introduced the rubber dam.
It is a flat thin sheet of latex/non-latex that is
held by a clamp and a frame, that is preferred
to allow the tooth/teeth to protrude through
the perforations, while all other teeth are
covered.

8. Rubber Dam Isolation
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Advantage
Act as a raincoat for the tooth.
Complete,long term moisture
control.
Maximizes access and visibility.
Clean dry field while working.
Protect lips,cheeks & tongue by
keeping them aside.
Reduces risk of cross contamination
esp. to root canal system
Prevents accidental swallowing or
aspiration of foreign bodies.
Improves the properties of dental
materials
Disadvantage
A. Takes time to be applied.
B. Communication with the patient
can be difficult.
C. Incorrect use may damage
porcelain crowns/gingival
tissues.
D. Insecure clamps can be
swallowed or aspirated.
H.

9. Contraindication:
 Asthmatic patients.
 Epilepsy and other motor disabilities.
 Allergic to latex
 Mouth breathers
 Presence of some fixed ortho app.
 A recently erupted tooth that does not retain
a clamp
 Extremely malpositioned teeth
 Third molar (in some cases)

10. Armamentarium
 Rubber dam sheet.
 Rubber dam clamps.
 Rubber dam forceps.
 Rubber dam frame.
 Rubber dam punch.
Accessories
 Lubricant/Petroleum jelly.
 Dental floss.
 Liquid dam.
 Rubber dam Napkin.

11. Rubber Dam Sheet
 It is made of latex or non-latex.
 Available in 2 sizes- ❶ 5”*5”
❷ 6”*6”
 New material should be used.
 Available in varying thickness.
 Light and dark sheets are available for colour contrast.
 Has a shiny & dull side, dull side will be facing the
occlusal side.

12. Rubber Dam Frame
The rubber dam frame maintains the border
of the dam in position.
Support the edges of the rubber dam.
Retract the soft tissues.
Available in metal and plastic.

14. Rubber Dam Punch
Rubber dam punch is used to make the holes in
the sheet through which the teeth can be
isolated.
The working end is designed with a plunger on
one side and a wheel on other side.
This wheel has holes of different sizes on the flat
surface facing the plunger.
The punch must produce a clean cut every time.

15. Rubber Dam Punch
Ainsworth type Ivory type

16. Rubber Dam Clamps
These are used to secure the dam to the
teeth, that are to be isolated.
These also minimally retract the gingiva
Subdivided into >Winged
>Wingless

17. Rubber Dam Clamps
Clamps without wings
Clamps with wings

18. Rubber Dam Template
It is an inked rubber stamp which helps in
marking the dots on the sheet according to
position of the tooth.
Holes should be punched according to arch
and missing teeth.

19. Rubber Dam Template

20. Accessories
• Dental Floss: It is used as flossing agent for
rubber dam in tight contact areas.
• Rubber Dam napkin: This is a sheet of absorbent
material placed between the rubber dam and
skin.
• Lubricant: A lubricant is applied in the area of
punch holes facilitates the passing of dam septa
through proximal contacts.

22. Application of Rubber Dam

23. 1. Testing & lubricating the proximal
contacts

24. 2.Punching the holes

25. 3.Lubricating the dam

26. 4.Selecting the retainer

27. 5.Testing the retainers stability &
retaintion

28. 6.Positioning the dam over the
retainer

29. 7.Applying the napkin

30. 8.Attaching the frame

31. 9.Applying the anterior anchor

32. 10.Passing the septa through the
contacts

33. 11.Invert the dam interproximally

34. 12.Inverting the dam Faciolingually

35. 13.Confirming a properly placed
rubber dam

36. 14.Checking for access & visibility

37. 15.Inserting the wedges(optional)

38. RUBBER DAM APPLICATION TECHNIQUES.
 Clamp first technique.
 Wing technique
 Rubber first technique
 Bracket technique

39. CLAMP FIRST TECHNIQUE
Advantages:
 It is two handed procedureore
 It can be implemented with molar and premolar(single bracket), winged or wingless clamp
 Excellent operative field visibility during placement
Disadvantages:
 Inserting the clamp into the mouth before the dam is dangerous since it might be displaced (fasten
it with ligature)
 The clamp is severely strained during placement
 It cannot be used with double bracket clamps

41. WING TECHNIQUE
Advantage:
 It is two handed procedure
 It is safe procedure for the clamp engaged within the sheet hole; if it gets disengaged from the
plier there is no risk of falling into the oral cavity (swallowing or inhaling)
 It is minimally invasive technique ; the patient does not feel the dentist’s hands in his/her mouth
Disadvantages:
 It can be implemented with winged clamps only
 Limited visibility on the target tooth

43. RUBBER FIRST TECHNIQUE
Advantages:
 It is a clamp safe procedure when oral cavity is protected by the rubber sheet(no risk of
swallowing or inhaling)
 Suitable for every clamp type
Disadvantages:
 Invasive for the patient especially in posterior region
 Limited visibility of the tooth to be clamped

45. BRACKET TECHNIQUE
Advantages:
 It is two handed procedure
 it is safe; the clamp is engaged within the sheet hole and it won’t fall into oral cavity should it
unfasten from the plier(swallowing or inhaling)
 Compatible with winged or wingless (wingless is better) premolar and molar (single bracket
clamp)
 Excellent field visibility during clamping
Disadvantages:
 Not compatible with anterior clamps(double bracket).

47. Removal of Rubber Dam

48. 1.Cutting the septa

49. 2.Remove the clamps

50. 3.Remove the dam

51. 4.Wiping the lips

52. 5.Massage the tissue

53. 6.Examining the dam

54. Cotton rolls
• Cotton rolls, gauze & cellulose wafers
absorbents are helpful for short period
of
isolation of the teeth especially where
rubber dam application is not possible.
• Usually placed in buccal & lingual sulcus
specially where salivary gland ducts exit, to as
to absorb saliva.

55. Throat Shield
• Throat shield is important specially when the
maxillary tooth is being treated.
• An unfold gauze is stretched over the tongue
and posterior part of the mouth.
• Avoid aspiration of restorations.

56. High volume evacuators & saliva ejector
• It is used to remove water from airrotor with
high suction speed.
• Also helps in retracting the soft tissues.

57. FAST DAM
17 suction holes along the perimeter

58. ISOLITE SYSTEM
Retraction,protection, aspiration, illumination
Size: pediatric, adult small, medium, large

59. Mirror & evacuator tip retractor
• A secondary function of the mirror and
evacuator tip is to retract the cheek, lip &
tongue

60. Mouth prop
• Mouth prop is also used to establish &
maintain a suitable mouth opening, thus help
in tooth preparation of posterior tooth.
• It is placed on the opposite to treatment
side.
• Provides sufficient mouth opening for
longer times.

61. Cheek retractor
• They are used to expand the mouth opening.
• This is usually use when working on the
gingival border of upper & lower front teeth
and for the adjustment of orthodontic bands.

62. Air water syringe
• By air water syringe an air blast can be useful
to dry tooth and soft tissue during
examination or used during procedure.

63. Drugs
• The use of drugs to control salivation is rarely
indicated in restorative therapy, and is
generally limited to atropine.
• Contraindicated for nursing mothers, and
patients with glaucoma.

64. By all these we can achieve a moisture
free mouth for better operative and
endodontic procedure.

65. References:
Sturdevant’s Art and Science of Operative
Dentistry
Isolation game of styleitaliano
Textbook of Operative Dentistry
Pickard’s manual of Operative Dentistry
 Internet

66. THANK YOU