title: General Dentists' Use of Isolation Techniques during Root Canal Treatment: From the National Dental Practice-based Research Network.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A preliminary study done by a National Dental Practice-Based Research Network precursor observed that 44% of general dentists (GDs) reported always using a rubber dam (RD) during root canal treatment (RCT). This full-scale study quantified the use of all isolation techniques, including RD use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Network practitioners completed a questionnaire about isolation techniques used during RCT. Network enrollment questionnaire data provided practitioner characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand four hundred ninety of 1716 eligible GDs participated (87%); 697 (47%) reported always using an RD. This percentage varied by tooth type. These GDs were more likely to always use an RD, do not own a private practice, perform less than 10 RCTs/month, and have postgraduate training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most GDs do not use an RD all the time. Ironically, RDs are used more frequently by GDs who do not perform molar RCT. RD use varies with tooth type and certain dentist, practice, and patient characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Nathaniel C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. Electronic address: ghg@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Gregg H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Funkhouser
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Eleazer
authors.affiliation: Private Practice of General Dentistry, Miami, Florida.
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Dental Group, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Donald C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Worley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016733:Rubber Dams / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Dentistry; health services research; isolation; practice-based research; rubber dam