HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What is purpose of a dental (rubber) dam?

1. To provide a comfortable experience for the patient

2. To help control tongue and saliva during dental work

3. To administer medication to the pulp

4. To keep the area warm and sterile

The correct answer is: To help control tongue and saliva during dental work

A dental dam serves multiple important functions during dental procedures, with one of its primary purposes being to help control the tongue and saliva. By isolating the tooth or area being worked on, the dam effectively minimizes excess moisture from saliva and prevents the tongue from interfering with the dentist's access to the treatment area. This isolation is critical for maintaining a clear working field, which enhances the accuracy and efficiency of various dental treatments, particularly restorative procedures like fillings. While comfort and sterility are important considerations in dentistry, they are not the main focus of a dental dam's function. The dam does provide an element of comfort by reducing the amount of saliva and minimizing the risk of swallowing or choking but it's not primarily designed for that purpose. The administration of medication to the pulp is not a function of the dental dam either, as medications are typically delivered using different methods. Keeping the area warm is not a relevant function of the dental dam, as its main role is to provide isolation rather than thermal regulation.