Despite its importance for dental health and normal digestive function, saliva can have an adverse effect on restorative materials and dental procedures. To prevent a negative outcome, care must be taken to avoid contamination by saliva. Practitioners have a number of methods for controlling saliva, and new systems and materials are currently in development. Methods for preventing saliva contamination vary widely amongst practitioners, and across specialties, for logistical reasons. Research comparing the merits of different methods can yield ambiguous results. Therefore, more research is needed.
The goal of this course is to provide information on best methods for preventing saliva contamination in dental, orthodontic and endodontic procedures.
After completing this article, the reader will:
- Understand some of the natural benefits of saliva
- Understand how salivary contamination can adversely affect restorations and root canals
- Have learned about various methods of moisture contamination control
- Understand the pros/cons of various methods of moisture control
- Recognize clinical implications in the field of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.
