Page 11 - COS-FOD2015

Compend. Oral Sci:vol1(2);2015;6-13

patients from many infectious diseases and a replacement material in effort to overcome
hazardous situations. the cost issue associated with rubber dam use.

Sanford Christie Barnum first advocated the Why hand gloves?

use of rubber dam almost 150 years ago [1].
Even in that era of dentistry, the benefit of iso- This study is focused on the usage of latex
lating a tooth to obtain a dry working field, free examination gloves because it is cheap and
of salivary contamination, was appreciated [1]. readily available in dental clinics. Examination
This material is produced as a thin sheet of nat- gloves are also made from the same resource
ural latex that is usually available in at least as a dental rubber dam, which is rubber, and
three different weights (thin, medium, and share similar properties like elasticity, stretch
heavy) [2]. The use of the rubber dam during ability and impermeability [2] which makes it a
root canal treatment confers three main ad- suitable alternative for the more expensive rub-
vantages: control of cross-infection, physical ber dam (dental). Despite these similarities, the
protection and improving treatment efficiency quality, quantity and type of ingredients used in
[3]. The benefits of rubber dam placement are the manufacturing of rubber dams and latex
now well known and accepted as a standard of gloves may differ and the way each of these
care by professional organizations such as Eu- materials are handled before and after com-
ropean Society of Endodontology 1992, 2006 pounding also will result in different tensile and
[5], American Association of Endodontists tear properties [2]. Hence a study needs to be
2004, and American Academy of Pediatric Den- done to evaluate whether the latex examination
tistry 2008-2009 [3]. In spite of this, a review gloves has the physical properties needed for a
study done by I. A. Ahmad, 2009 stated that rubber dam [2]. The purpose of this study was
studies have cited a variety of reasons for lack to compare the tensile and tear properties of
of regular use of rubber dam amongst the den- two different weights of rubber dam and three
tal profession. The most commonly reported different types and manufacturer brand of
reasons include lack of patient acceptance, gloves. The manner in which the tensile and
time required for application, insufficient trai- tear properties can be determined is described
ning, difficulty in use, the cost of equipment and in the American Society for Testing and Materi-
materials and low treatment fees [3]. Several als (ASTM) D412- Standard Test Properties for
respondents also suggested that patients did Rubber Properties in Tension. [2].

not like rubber dam being used [10].
Material and Methods
While more than one factor is associated with
lack of regular use of rubber dam, a technique This is a randomized controlled trial study test-
that has a clear infection control benefit and ing for tensile strength of three (3) types of
medico-legal and safety implications should not gloves and two (2) types of rubber dam as a
be excluded from use for reasons of cost [3]. control group. The rubber dams and gloves

Thus, one of the aims of this study is to explore used for this study were obtained from the Fac-
the potential use of latex examination gloves as ulty Dentistry of University Technology MARA
clinic.

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