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Dentistry vocabulary · Instruments and the Dental Clinic

Rubber dam

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

nounCommon term

In dentistry, rubber dam means: A thin sheet of latex or latex-free rubber stretched on a frame and held by a clamp, so that only the tooth being treated shows through a hole.

In Turkish: rubber dam, koferdam, lastik örtü

How it is used

Used to keep the tooth dry, protect the airway and keep irrigants out of the mouth. It is standard in root canal treatment and common for bonded fillings. Dentists place or put on a rubber dam and remove it at the end.

Example sentences

  1. We'll put a rubber dam on, so you'll just feel a little pressure from the clamp.

  2. In our clinic, all root canal treatment is done under rubber dam.

Common collocations

  • place a rubber dam
  • under rubber dam
  • rubber dam clamp
  • rubber dam isolation
  • root canal treatmentTreatment that removes inflamed or infected pulp from inside a tooth, then cleans, shapes and seals the root canals so that the tooth can be kept.
  • compositeA tooth-colored filling material made of resin mixed with fine glass or ceramic particles. It is bonded to the tooth and usually hardened with a blue curing light.
  • endodontic fileA thin, flexible metal instrument with cutting edges, used by hand or with a motor to clean and shape the inside of root canals.
  • suctionEquipment that removes saliva, water and debris from the patient's mouth during treatment. High-volume suction also reduces spray and aerosol.

More terms: Instruments and the Dental Clinic

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.