Clinical evaluation of rubber dam tension on the accuracy of intraoral scans

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of digital scans made under heavy-gauge latex rubber dam isolation for single-tooth indirect bonded posterior restorations on first molars by assessing the firmness of the proximal contact (PC) after delivery.
Materials and methods: In the present retrospective study, partial-bonded leucite-reinforced feldspathic ceramic indirect restorations with the inclusion of the mesial and distal contact points were prepared on first molars under heavy-gauge latex rubber dam isolation. Two groups were compared: in group W, the teeth were held in their initial position using interproximal wedges; in group NW, the teeth were free to migrate under the tension produced by the rubber dam. A digital scan under rubber dam was taken for both groups, and the restorations were made by one dental technician. After delivery, the firmness of the restorations’ PCs was evaluated. The chi-square test was used with a significance level of 5%.
Results: Forty partial-bonded leucite-reinforced feldspathic ceramic indirect restorations were included in the present study, 20 in group W and 20 in group NW (N = 40 patients; 19 maxillary molars and 21 mandibular molars). Evaluations performed 6 months after delivery demonstrated that the restorations in group W showed significantly better (P 0.01) PCs than those in group NW.
Conclusions: Heavy-gauge rubber dam induces tooth migration, which impairs the PC of indirect bonded restorations. Scanning under rubber dam allows precise PCs to be achieved when the prepared teeth are held in their initial position by interproximal wedges. Palabras clave: accuracy, dental, dentistry, digital, intraoral scanner, isolation, migration, partial-bonded indirect restorations, proximal contact, rubber dam