Citation Information :
Younes LM, Doumani M, Al-Nahlawi TF, Habib A. Syrian Senior Dental Students’ Perception, Educational Satisfaction, and Attitude Regarding the Usage of Rubber Dam. World J Dent 2020; 11 (1):47-51.
Aim: The study aimed to determine the perception, educational satisfaction, and attitude of dental students (fourth and fifth years) regarding the usage of rubber dam. Materials and methods: A piloted questionnaire was distributed to fourth- and fifth-dental students in Damascus (governmental) and Syrian private (private) dental schools in August 2019. Information collected included perception, educational satisfaction, and attitude to the usage of rubber dam in different operative and endodontic treatments. A data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 25. A descriptive statistical analysis was done, and a Chi-square test was performed to compare the obtained data. The data evaluation was at a significant level of p < 0.05. Results: Out of 380 questionnaires distributed, 346 were filled and returned, the response rate was 91.05%. Rubber dam was used by 91.62% of the participants (n = 317) on child patients. Rubber dam was never used by 47.11% of the participants (n = 163) when placing amalgam restorations, and by 5.50% of the participants (n = 19) when placing composite restorations. Rubber dam was used by 61.85% of the participants (n = 214) after access cavity preparation when performing root canal treatments. A total of 44.22% of the participants (n = 153) believed that their use of rubber dam will be in all indicated procedures after graduation. Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, there was still a high possibility among the undergraduate dental students that they might not practice routine placement of rubber dam after graduation. Clinical significance: A very important method to improve the clinical dental practicing is by studying how dental students looks to the details of each dental procedure, so the academic institutes can change the wrong thoughts of the future dentists from the dental student level. One of these important procedures is the rubber dam application.
Huggins DR. The rubber dam: an insurance policy against litigation. J Indiana Dent Assoc 1986;65(3):23–24.
Marshall K. Dental workspace contamination and the role of rubber dam. CPD Dent 2001;2(2):48–50.
Forrest WR, Perez RS. AIDS and hepatitis prevention: the role of the rubber dam. Oper Dent 1986;11(4):159.
Cochran MA, Miller CH, Sheldrake MA. The efficacy of the rubber dam as a barrier to the spread of microorganisms during dental treatment. J Am Dent Assoc 1989;119(1):141–144. DOI: 10.14219/jada. archive.1989.0131.
Samaranayake LP, Reid J, Evans D. The efficacy of rubber dam isolation in reducing atmospheric bacterial contamination. ASDC J Dent 1989;56(6):442–444.
Miller RL, Micik RE. Air pollution and its control in the dental office. Dent Clin North Am 1978;22:453–476.
Wong RC. The rubber dam as a means of infection control in an era of AIDS and hepatitis. J Indiana Dent Assoc 1988;67:41–43.
De Andrade ED, Ranali J, Volpato MC, et al. Allergic reaction after rubber dam placement. J Endod 2000;26(3):182–183. DOI: 10.1097/00004770-200003000-00014.
The Dentist Insurance Company, California Dental Association. Rubber dam it. Liability Lifeline 2004;80:1–7.
Loest C. Quality guidelines for endodontic treatment: consensus report of the European Society of Endodontology. Int Endod J 2006;39(12):921–930.
Ryan W, O’Connell A. The attitudes of undergraduate dental students to the use of the rubber dam. J Ir Dent Assoc 2007;53(2): 87–91.
Mala S, Lynch CD, Burke FM, et al. Int Endod J 2009;42(7):632–638. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2591.2009.01569.x.
Abdulrab S, Al-Maweri SA, Doumani M, et al. Rubber dam: attitudes and practices of senior dental students in Saudi Arabia. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences 2016;15(2):79–83.
Tanalp J, Kayataş M, Başer Can ED, et al. Evaluation of senior dental students’ general attitude towards the use of rubber dam: a survey among two dental schools. Sci World J 2014. 1–8. DOI: 10.1155/2014/290101.
Wilson NHF. Curricular issues changing from amalgam to toothcolored materials. J Dent 2004;32(5):367–369.
Lynch CD, McConnell RJ. Attitudes and use of rubber dam by Irish general dental practitioners. Int Endod J 2007;40:427–432. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2591.2007.01212.x.
Kleier DJ, Shibilski K. Management of the latex hypersensitive patient in the endodontic office. J Endod 1999;25(12):825–828. DOI: 10.1016/S0099-2399(99)80307-0.
Akbar I, Alam F, Qureshi B, et al. The attitude of undergraduate dental students toward the use of rubber dam. Pak Oral Dent J 2017;37(4):622–627.
Csinszka K-IA, Monica M, Mihai P, et al. Prevalence of rubber dam usage among dental practitioners and final year students in tirgu mures: a questionnaire survey. Acta Med Marisiensis 2015;61(3): 189–191. DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0059.
Al-Haj Ali SN, Al-Mohaimeed BA. The attitude of undergraduate dental students toward the use of rubber dam in College of dentistry, Qassim University. Int J Adv Res 2015;3(11):1480–1485.
Feierabend SA, Matt J, Klaiber B. Comparison of conventional and new rubber dam systems in dental practice. Oper Dent 2011;36(3):243–250. DOI: 10.2341/09-283-C.
Stewardson DA, McHugh ES. Patient’s attitudes to rubber dam. Int Endod J 2002;35(10):812–819. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2591.2002. 00571.x.
