Sir, dental/rubber dam has always been a strange issue in dental practice. Those of us who use it 'swear by it', but those who don't, decry its use, often in most strident terms.

There is absolutely no doubt that one of the major advantages of using it is the reduction in bacterial (viral) aerosol. Given the difficult and troubled time we now work under we must assume that dental dam could be a life saver, and it would seem to be professionally irresponsible not to use it when clinically appropriate. I am well aware that there are many general dentists out there who have always been in the anti-dam brigade who would now find themselves in a position where they would like to use it but find it 'difficult'.

Formally, I used to provide many dental dam courses but thanks to the wonders of YouTube, the aspiring dam user can view a myriad of presentations demonstrating application and make their choice of the technique that they want to adopt. Two current points I would make however is that it must be latex free, hence the use of the term dental dam as opposed to rubber dam. Also the dam should be brought up over the nostrils, for obvious reasons. However, patients are sometimes resistant to this and they will have to be coaxed gently, explaining why covering the nose is necessary. I have never had a problem with this and frankly if a patient was adamant now that they did not want the nose covered I would decline treatment.