Attitudes of final year dental students to the use of rubber dam

Aim To investigate the attitudes of final year dental students in Wales and Ireland to the use of rubber dam. Methods A pre‐piloted questionnaire was distributed to final year dental students in Cardiff and Cork Dental Schools in January 2008. Information sought included attitudes to, and the current and anticipated use of, rubber dam for a variety of operative and endodontic treatments. Results Of 93 questionnaires distributed, 87 were completed and returned (response rate = 94%; Cardiff: 89%, n = 51; Cork: 100%, n = 36). Rubber dam was routinely used by 98% of respondents (n = 85) on adult patients, but only 32% of respondents (n = 28) had used rubber dam on child patients (P