Attitudes of Dental Faculty Students Towards Rubber-Dam Usage in Endodontic Treatments

Objectives: This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, frequency of use, reasons for use, difficulties encountered, and post-graduation usage expectations of fourth- and fifth-year dental students in Turkey regarding the use of rubber-dam in endodontic treatments.Materials and Methods: 1,089 dental students voluntarily participated in a survey-based study after providing informed consent via an online form. The survey consisted of multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions designed to collect demographic information, assess knowledge and the frequency of rubber dam use, determine reasons for use, evaluate encountered difficulties, and measure post-graduation usage expectations. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Frequency and percentage distributions were calculated, and Fisher's Exact and Pearson Chi-Square tests were used for inter-group comparisons.Results: The study revealed that the vast majority of students are aware of the necessity of rubber dam for both dentists and patients, and that they trust this method and feel comfortable with it. Most students (75%) have received formal rubber dam training. The findings also showed that use frequency varies by tooth group, with molars used more frequently than anterior and premolars. Stress levels during application were higher for molars due to technical difficulties. Students showed a higher preference for rubber dam use after access cavity preparation compared to the preoperative stage. The main difficulties mentioned were taking periapical radiographs and treating teeth with extensive substance loss.Conclusions: The high post-graduation usage expectation (77.1%) reflects a positive outlook toward the adoption of contemporary endodontic practices. To support wider adoption, dental curricula should standardize and strengthen both theoretical and practical training in rubber-dam techniques.