Overview of attitudes, knowledge, and barriers to the use of rubber dam in endodontic and restorative treatments by new dentists

The use of rubber dams remains uncommon among dentists, prompting further investigation. This 2022 study assessed the attitudes, knowledge, and perceived barriers to rubber dam use among new dental graduates at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY). A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2022 graduates from UMY's Faculty of Dentistry. Data were analyzed descriptively and using Chi-square tests. Results showed that 72.7% used rubber dams in all endodontic cases and 76.8% in restorative procedures. Most respondents believed rubber dams enhanced treatment success, with 98.4% for endodontic and 95.8% for restorative. However, barriers included patient discomfort (85.1%), increased treatment time (75.2%), insertion difficulty (71.9%), and high cost (61.2%). No significant gender differences were found in rubber dam use or knowledge. Despite these challenges, most respondents viewed rubber dams as an ideal isolation tool for dental procedures due to their clinical benefits. The limitation in this study was the small sample size, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings