Glossary

Rubber dam

Alternate terms: Dam; Dental dam.

An isolation barrier used by dentists to protect the patient against swallowing or inhaling dental materials, bacteria-laden decay, and old filling or other restorative materials. Rubber dams may be thought of as surgical drapes, in that they isolate the area being treated from mouth moisture and bacteria, and protect against injury by dental instrumentation. Typically rubber dams are made of latex rubber, but due to the increase in latex allergies in recent years, are available in non-latex materials. Rubber dams are held in place by clipping them to a tooth in the area of treatment with a spring clamp.