Avaliação clínica de novo sistema de marcação de dique de borracha

Abstract

Introduction: Rubber dam is used in dentistry to ensure asepsis, visibility and safety during treatment. Isolation is essential during endodontic procedures. Despite its advantages, its use still faces limitations due to technical challenges. Several innovations have been developed to improve its use, including new marking systems. The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate a new marking system, comparing it with the Coltene® MAP. Materials and Methods: Rubber dam application was performed on 25 patients at the university dental clinic, using two methods: the traditional Coltene® MAP and a new marking system. Each patient underwent isolation twice on the same tooth, during different appointments for endodontic treatment, allowing direct comparison between the two methods. The positioning of the dams, patient comfort and ease of use for the operators were evaluated. A questionnaire was administered at each session and the data was statistically analyzed using SPSS®. The new system aims to provide greater precision and anatomical adaptation. Results: Wilcoxon and Student's t-tests for paired samples were used. The new system demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in horizontal and vertical deviation values compared to the Coltene® MAP. The use of the new system did not affect patient discomfort. The ease of use for operators was similar between the two systems, but the level of satisfaction was statistically higher with the new system. Conclusions: The new system allows for a significant improvement in rubber dam positioning and operator satisfaction, with no additional drawbacks. It can therefore be considered an improvement for endodontic and restorative treatments in terms of efficiency and efficacy.

Date of Award	18 Jul 2025
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Miguel Cardoso (Supervisor) & Rita Noites (Co-Supervisor)