Rubber dam isolation is mandatory in endodontic therapy (Quality guidelines for endodontic treatment, European Society of Endodontology 1994). It is also recommended in adhesive dentistry to ensure that acid-etched surfaces are free from saliva contamination. Traditionally, the dam is made of latex (“rubber dam”). Due to a growing number of allergies to latex (e.g. Rankin 1993, de Andrade 2000), manufacturers have developed non-latex alterntives. So far, scientific information on physical properties of dental dam is limited (Svec 1996); no information is availlable elastic properties of recent non-latex substitutes. Objective: Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the elastic properties of state-of-the-art latex and non-latex dental dams. Materials: Investigated were 22 dental dams from 7 manufacturers, including 18 latex- and 4 non-latex-materials. Methods: Tear stresses were measured following a new test protocol (ADA WG 90, dumb-bell and angel-piece samples). Coded samples were teared in a universal testing machine (Zwick Roell Zwicky). Tear-strengths were recorded automatically and calculated statistically (Tukey-procedure, alpha set to p<0.05). Results: Compared by the nature of the material, elasticity of latex dams was significantly higher than the same manufacturerxs non-latex dams (Hygenic medium latex dam 14.48 ± 3.25 MPa vs. medium non-latex dam 7.84 ± 1.08 MPa). With regard to the age of latex samples, elasticity of new material (Hygenic medium latex) was significantly higher than 11 and 12 year old material (9,20 ± 1,3 MPa vs. 6,46 ± 0,55 MPa). Between different manufacturers of latex dams, elasticiy differend, depending on the strenght of the am (thin: no differeneces, medium + heavy: significant differences). Conclusions: Future ADA-standards comparable to the methods employed in this study will help dental consumers to evaluate dental damxs properties in advance. The tested non-latex dams were less elastic than comparable latex material.

Back to the Dental Materials: VIII - Others-Non-metallic Program
Back to the 81st General Session of the International Association for Dental Research (June 25-28, 2003)

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