Iatrogenic exfoliation of a tooth following abuse of a rubber dam: a case report

This paper presents a case in which tooth exfoliation followed rubber dam abuse. A 40-year-old patient was referred to the prosthodontic clinic with complaints of mobility and discomfort in tooth 44, which had received an amalgam restoration. While this tooth was scaled, a piece of rubber dam appeared in the buccal sulcus. Removal of the rubber piece was followed by thorough scaling and tooth splinting. Tooth deterioration continued, and concern for the adjacent teeth necessitated extraction of tooth 44. To avoid such undesirable consequences, the integrit y of the dam should be verified on its removal.