Operative dentistry: Isolation of the operating field

Isolation of the operating field
The goals of operating field isolation are:
?harm prevention (Excessive saliva and handpiece spray can alarm the patient. Small instruments and restorative debris can be aspirated or swallowed. Soft tissue can be damaged accidentally).
?moisture control (sulcular fluid, saliva, and gingival bleeding from the operating field).
?retraction (maintaining an open mouth and depressing or retracting the gingival tissue, tongue, lips, and cheek).
I-Local anesthesia:
?Local anesthesia is important in moisture control.
?It reduces salivation, apparently because the patient is more comfortable, less anxious, and less sensitive to oral stimuli, thus reducing salivary flow.
?Local anesthetics incorporating a vasoconstrictor also reduce blood flow, thus helping to control hemorrhage at the operating site.
II-Rubber dam:
?In 1864, S.C. Barnum, a New York City dentist, introduced the rubber dam into dentistry.
?The rubber dam is used to define the operating field by isolating one or more teeth from the oral environment.
?The dam eliminates saliva from the operating site and retracts the soft tissue.
?The dam ensures appropriate dryness of the teeth and improves the quality of clinical restorative dentistry.