Abstract
Objective: To find out the frequency of rubber dam usage among clinical students, interns and dental practitioners and the barriers they come across to place it routinely in their practices.
Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was performed from October 2016 to January 2017 using non-probability convenience sampling. A questionnaire was meticulously designed based on questionnaires used in similar studies in the past. The target population in this study was clinical dental students, interns and the faculty members working in various teaching institutions in Karachi and involved in general dental practice. Data from completed questionnaire was analysed using SPSS version 20.
Results: With the healthy response rate of 81%, this study shows that the majority (76%) of clinical students, interns and practicing dentists in Karachi, Pakistan continue to ignore the rubber dam placement in their routine practices. Total 89% of non-users did not use it as they find it time consuming and 66% of them mentioned that it is difficult to place. Couple of other reasons for which more than 50% of respondents avoid using rubber dam are frequent tearing of the sheet and patient's fear or abhorring attitude towards placement of rubber dam.
Conclusion: This study suggests that use of rubber dam is an unpopular method for isolation of operative site among clinical students, interns and clinicians working in Karachi.