Indian Journal of Oral Health and Research

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2018  |  Volume : 4  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 16--20

Effect of rubber dam on objective and subjective parameters of stress during dental treatment of children


Sanmati Pol, Farhin Katge, Vamsi Krishna, Pooja Balgi, Debapriya Pradhan 
 Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Terna Dental Hospital, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Sanmati Pol
Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Terna Dental Hospital, Sector 22, Plot No. 12, Nerul (W), Navi Mumbai - 400 706, Maharashtra
India

Abstract

Background: Rubber dam is advocated for isolating the operating field during clinical dental procedures. Pediatric dentists often omit rubber dam, in patients assuming that it would cause stress to the patient or because of lack of compliance from the patient. Materials and Methods: Sixty lower first permanent molars from 30 patients were included in the study. From each patient, one tooth was selected for the test group using rubber dam. The corresponding tooth from the opposite quadrant was selected for the control group using saliva ejector and cotton roll. On the first visit, rubber dam application was used for fissure sealing procedure. On next visit, cotton rolls and saliva ejector were used for the same procedure. During the procedure, objective parameters of stress, such as blood pressure, breath rate, and pulse rate of patients, were recorded. The pulse rate of operator was recorded by a dental assistant which is indicative of operator's stress level. Results: The pulse rate of the patients in the control group was higher than the test group using rubber dam, and it was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The pulse rate of the operator was considerably lower in the test group using rubber dam as compared to control group using saliva ejector and cotton roll which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study concluded that isolation with rubber dam caused less stress in patients and in operator as compared to cotton rolls and saliva ejector.



How to cite this article:
Pol S, Katge F, Krishna V, Balgi P, Pradhan D. Effect of rubber dam on objective and subjective parameters of stress during dental treatment of children.Indian J Oral Health Res 2018;4:16-20


How to cite this URL:
Pol S, Katge F, Krishna V, Balgi P, Pradhan D. Effect of rubber dam on objective and subjective parameters of stress during dental treatment of children. Indian J Oral Health Res [serial online] 2018 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];4:16-20
Available from: https://www.ijohr.org/text.asp?2018/4/1/16/245674


Full Text



 Introduction



When using modern restorative procedures, adequate isolation of the working field is an important prerequisite to assure long-term endurance of the restoration. Use of rubber dam for isolation is a long-established technique within the dental profession, having been utilized for over 100 years[1] and encouraged within the specialty of pediatric dentistry. Apart from providing isolation, numerous advantages have been reported with the use of rubber dam which is given in the literature [Box 1].[2],[3],[4][INLINE:1]

Jinks has stated that once the rubber dam is applied on patients, they get the impression that the treatment is taking place outside their mouth; hence, they can tolerate treatments for a longer period.[2] Time is saved when the rubber dam isolation method is used by pediatric dentists, mainly because there is better soft-tissue management and changing of cotton rolls can be omitted.[5]

The aim of this study was to evaluate subjective and objective stress parameters in patients undergoing dental treatment using rubber dam as compared to isolation with cotton rolls and saliva ejector and to evaluate the stress level of the operator.

Null hypothesis – The null hypothesis was that there was no difference in stress parameters between the test and the control group.

 Materials and Methods



This study was conducted in the Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Terna Dental College, Navi Mumbai (IRB-EC/162/2017). All procedures carried out in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards as well as the International conference on harmonization guideline for good clinical practice.

Patients between 7 and 9 years of age group, who required pit and fissure sealing procedure according to International Caries Detection and Assessment System II Criteria[6] [Table 1] were included in this study. Written consent was obtained from the parents of the children who were selected for the study.{Table 1}

The inclusion criteria for the study were as follows:

Presence of a nonstained fissureAbsence of cariesFully erupted molars.

The exclusion criteria were as follows:

Partially erupted teethCarious teethSigns of opacity and brown discoloration after cleaning the surface of the tooth to be sealedFixed orthodontic appliancesLack of compliance.

A total of 30 patients with bilateral fully erupted lower first permanent molars were selected for the study. For each patient, one tooth was selected for test group using rubber dam. The corresponding tooth from the opposite quadrant was selected for the control group using saliva ejector and cotton roll. On the first visit, rubber dam application as an isolation method was used for pit and fissure sealing procedure. On the next visit, cotton rolls and saliva ejector was used as an isolation method for pit and fissure sealing procedure. An interval of 1 week was kept between the two visits. The patient's parameters such as blood pressure, breath rate, and pulse rate which denotes stress levels were recorded at four measuring points [Table 2].[7] Blood pressure and pulse rate were measured by automatic digital blood pressure monitor (arm automatic blood pressure meter, India; Model no-RS-BP-1004). The breath rate was measured manually by a dental assistant. The patient's subjective pain perception during the dental procedure at four measuring points was recorded using visual analog scale by a dental assistant (1–10). For the operator, the pulse rate as a stress parameter was recorded at four measuring points by a dental assistant [Table 2].[7]{Table 2}

Blood pressure, breath rate, and pulse rate of the patient as well as pulse rate of the operator were recorded at different treatment phases such as baseline, after sitting on the treatment chair, after curing of the sealant just before removing rubber dam/cotton roll and after the treatment was completed [Table 2].[7] The teeth were cleaned with a prophylactic paste (Prophy paste, United Kingdom) for 30 s. It was then rinsed with water and air dried. Afterward, rubber dam application was done on the tooth to be treated using a suitable rubber dam clamp (GDC Marketing Co., India). The tooth was etched using 37% phosphoric acid gel (3M Scotchbond™ Universal Etchant, United States) for 15 s[8] and rinsed with water for 20 s. The tooth was air dried for 20 s. The fissure sealant (SDI Limited, Australia) was applied using manufacturer's instructions. Ball-shaped plugger was used to remove blebs from peripheral to central and excess material from side of the fissures was removed with cotton pellets. The sealant was then cured with light (Bluephase, Confident Dental Equipments Ltd, India) for 20 s.

In the control group, the cotton rolls were positioned on the buccal and lingual region of the tooth to be treated. A saliva ejector was placed on the lingual side of the tooth, and buccal cheek was retracted with the help of mouth mirror. The pit and fissure sealant was then applied on the tooth isolated as mentioned above. After the treatment procedure, the occlusion was checked. A fluoride varnish (Fluor Protector, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) was applied after the treatment was done.[9]

Subjective pain perception of the children

Mean values of subjective perception of pain during treatment were found higher for the control group at measuring points (points 2 and 3) [Graph 1].[INLINE:2]

Objective stress parameters of patients during treatment

The blood pressure and breath rate of the patients were slightly higher in the control group as compared to the test group; however, it was not statistically significant. The pulse rate of the patients in the control group was slightly higher than the test group at measuring points (points 1, 2 and 4); however, it was statistically significant at measuring points (points 1 and 4) (P < 0.05) [Table 3] and [Graph 2], [Graph 3].{Table 3}[INLINE:3][INLINE:4]

Operator's perception and pulse rate

The pulse rate of the operator when using rubber dam was lower at all measuring points, but at measuring points (point 2 and 3), it was statistically significant [Table 4] and [Graph 4]. The self-perceived mental and also significantly lower when using rubber dam for isolation.{Table 4}[INLINE:5]

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS version 21 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago IL, USA). For the comparison of the mean values between groups at different measuring points, Paired t-test with ANOVA test followed by post hoc test was used. The level for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

 Results



A total of 30 patients aged between 7 and 9 years participated in the study. Sealants were applied on 60 teeth in bilateral fully erupted lower first permanent molars. On 30 teeth, rubber dam application was done whereas on the other 30 teeth, cotton roll and saliva ejector were used for isolation during pit and fissure sealant procedure.

 Discussion



The fissure sealing procedure was chosen for this trial so as to induce balanced and relatively low-stress level in patients. Other adhesive restorative procedures could have been more difficult to standardize and would have caused a wider variety of stress levels; hence, they were not included in the current study. The subjective view of the children was supported by the objective bio signals collected during the treatment procedure. Blood pressure, breath rate, and pulse rate have been reported to be bio signals related to stress; hence, they were measured.

Brandstetter found lower pulse rate of the operator during the treatment procedure with rubber dam. This was interpreted as signs of a higher degree of relaxation.[10] Similarly, our study also showed a significant reduction in pulse rate of the operator during the treatment procedure using rubber dam.

Significant reduction in pulse rate of the patient was also observed during treatment procedure with rubber dam indicating lower stress level in the test group. A possible explanation for this can be that once rubber dam is in place, it separates the operative field in a way that the patient perceives the treatment procedure being performed outside of his/her body[2],[11] whereas the manipulation of cotton rolls and saliva ejector takes place inside the patient's mouth.

Monitoring the operator's pulse rate during treatment procedure was necessary as operator's stress levels might influence the stress levels of patients. This is because stress levels of the operator might get transferred to the patient during the treatment.

Conclusions from this study have to be drawn carefully because it was not possible to blind the operator with regard to the treatment procedure (with or without rubber dam) and his personal preference for rubber dam application was certainly a bias for the outcome of this study.

 Conclusion



This study concludes that isolation with rubber dam was less stressful for patients than isolation with cotton rolls and saliva ejector.

This study also concludes that using rubber dam as an isolation method was less stressful for the operator than using cotton rolls and saliva ejector.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Nikhil Bhanushali from Department of Public Health Dentistry for his assistance in statistical analysis in this study.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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