National Dental Practice-Based Research Network researchers found only 47 percent of dentists use a dental dam during root canal treatment.
Here are five takeaways:
1. Researchers found an additional 17 percent of dentists used dental dams 90 percent to 99 percent of the time.
2. Researchers found attitudes influenced the use of dental dams. Many dentists claimed the dental dam is inconvenient, time-consuming and ineffective.
3. Some dentists reporting using alternative ways to isolate the tooth that they deemed safe and effective.
4. Other general dentists said dentists should use dental dams in every case and urge patients to ask dentists to use a dental dam during root canal treatment.
5. The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network is comprised of dental care providers and dental organizations that conduct studies to better inform clinical decision-making.
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