Dental dams or rubber dams are essentially rectangular sheets of latex used in dentistry, specifically endodontic therapy. They are also used during sexual activities as a safer sex technique. For other uses, see latex (disambiguation). ... A Dentist and Dental Assistant perform surgery on a patient. ... Endodontic therapy is a sequence of treatment for the pulp of a tooth whose end result is the elimination of infection and protection of the decontaminated tooth from future microbial invasion. ... Sexual behavior is a form of physical intimacy that may be directed to reproduction (one possible goal of sexual intercourse) and/or to the enjoyment of activity involving sexual gratification. ... Safe sex (also called safer sex) is a term describing practices designed to reduce the risk of sustaining or imparting sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) (also known as sexually-transmitted diseases or STDs in the US). ...

In dentistry

Dental dam in patient's mouth.

A dental dam, also known as in Europe as a "Kofferdamm" (from German), is used mainly in endodontic treatment and when putting fillings into teeth. They are often made from thin latex rubber, and because of possible latex allergy, they are also available in silicone. Download high resolution version (1024x768, 77 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1024x768, 77 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Endodontics is a sub-specialty of dentistry, that deals with the tooth pulp or dentine complex. ... Look up filling in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see latex (disambiguation). ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Silicones (more accurately called polymerized siloxanes or polysiloxanes) are inorganic-organic polymers with the chemical formula [R2SiO]n, where R = organic groups such as methyl, ethyl, and phenyl. ...

The main function is to isolate the tooth being treated from its environment, in particular from the bacteria in the oral cavity. The rubber dam is held over individual teeth or groups of teeth by appropriate clips or threads (ligatures) along the edge of the gum. The tooth crown stands out from the rubber dam through individual holes made by hole pliers, and permits a clean and dry treatment of the appropriate tooth without admission of blood and saliva. Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ... The mouth, also known as the buccal cavity or the oral cavity, is the opening through which an animal or human takes in food. ...

Routine use of dental dams is not always appropriate because of some difficulties: communication with the patient is strongly reduced and the patient may feel restricted.

For oral sex

When held over the vulva or anus, an unpierced, intact dental dam protects both the person performing oral sex on those body parts and the person receiving it from potential harm from sexually transmitted diseases. Oral sex consists of all sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth, which may include use of the tongue, teeth, and throat, to stimulate genitalia. ... The external genital organs of the female are collectively known as the vulva (plural vulvae, vulvas)[1] or genitalia feminina externa[2]. In common speech, the term vagina is often used improperly to refer to the vulva or female genitals generally, even though, strictly speaking, the vagina is a specific... Female Human Anatomy Male Human Anatomy This article is about the bodily orifice. ... Oral sex consists of all sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth, which may include use of the tongue, teeth, and throat, to stimulate genitalia. ... Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), are diseases that are commonly transmitted between partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. ...

External links

• SexInfo's "How to Make a Dental Dam Using a Condom"
• How to use a Dental Dam for sex
• Sgfelken.com (commercial) website provides a description and pictures about dental dams and its medical and sexual usage.