RatCreature (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ratcreature) wrote2013-04-20 12:08 pm
ratcreature) wrote2013-04-20 12:08 pm
random curiosity
When I had some dental work not too long ago (still awaiting the bill for my copayment for the new crown :( ), I noticed once again that my dentist does not use "dental dams". In fact despite having had fillings (both amalgam back in the day and composite fillings once they became available), root canals, and surgery for root tip resections with two dentists and two different dental surgeons (granted not a large sample), I've never experienced anyone using a dental dam for anything.
In fact though I have seen pictures of them online, I can't quite imagine them how they would work in practice. I read that they are supposed to keep the work area clean and dry, especially for the composite fillings, but my dentist does that with cotton wads and suction, and I've never had a composite filling fall out or anything like that, and while once or twice I've had a fixed tooth rot again, many of my composite fillings are by now lasting longer than the "average" lifetime they are said to have, so I don't think my dentist's work is particularly shoddy (though I do sometimes wonder about his approach to hygiene, because while he does wear gloves for drilling and such, he doesn't always for just checking, even though his hand is in my mouth then too).
Anyway, I have been wondering how common the use of dental dams in dental work really is, hence this poll.
In fact though I have seen pictures of them online, I can't quite imagine them how they would work in practice. I read that they are supposed to keep the work area clean and dry, especially for the composite fillings, but my dentist does that with cotton wads and suction, and I've never had a composite filling fall out or anything like that, and while once or twice I've had a fixed tooth rot again, many of my composite fillings are by now lasting longer than the "average" lifetime they are said to have, so I don't think my dentist's work is particularly shoddy (though I do sometimes wonder about his approach to hygiene, because while he does wear gloves for drilling and such, he doesn't always for just checking, even though his hand is in my mouth then too).
Anyway, I have been wondering how common the use of dental dams in dental work really is, hence this poll.
Poll #13275 dental dams?
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 30
Have you had dentists use dental dams while working on your teeth?
no subject
The good thing about the dam (for me as a patient) is that it keeps all of the chemicals from coming into contact with my mouth, but the bad thing is that sometimes I kind of feel like I'm drowning. Usually when the dam is in, they either have the suction thing left permanently in the corner of your mouth while they're working, or the dental assistant suctions you periodically. But it's hard to signal when you need it, because they can't see that you need it and you can't talk at all. (But I've also had that problem with regular dental work, so maybe I've just had inattentive dentists ...)
The other problem with it is that the metal frame that holds the dam in place is kind of painful, and my jaws are often sore afterwards because you can't really shift your jaw or half-close your mouth to rest the muscles like you can otherwise.
no subject
I'd been wondering whether these don't irritate the gums with the contraption and the latex around the tooth. For me gum irritation is a major cause for pain after dental work. I once had a filling done and it hurt a long time, but there wasn't anything wrong with the tooth, my gums were just irritated so much, because the caries had been relatively low on the side, iirc, so the dentist had to bother my gums a lot. And not just the gums, the whole skin in my mouth is very touchy.
no subject
no subject