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
Well, on the upside my usual visits are dental cleanings, and the assistant who works on my teeth for that then always wears gloves and a mask, because obviously gums can bleed quite a bit, and then there is spatter from the cleaning brushes and such. But for my crown for example while my dentist wore gloves when he ground down the tooth for the fitting and while he was drilling and such, but once all that was finished and he came back at the end to just put on the temporary crown, he didn't. I found that odd and thought about asking (especially since I told him I was sick with a fewer when I declined the handshake at the beginning), but when I saw him gloveless I was in the middle of still having been told to keep my mouth open, and then afterward I was relieved the over two hours of dental visit was over, and I had this fewer with the flu that day and felt horrible and not up to starting anything. Somehow it's always something.
I mean, I keep wanting to at least address it because I notice that he's not meticulous to always wear gloves, but then I tend to forget, or it seems really awkward or something. Because in general I quite like my dentist, and am satisfied with his work. OTOH of course I don't exactly fancy catching hepatitis or something from some hand transfer either.
no subject
it's your safety, insist on gloves.
no subject