ArticleJournal of dentistry2026
Factors associated with dental dam use during non-surgical root canal treatment: A national dental PBRN study.
Article in Journal of dentistry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Opioid prescribing after nonsurgical root canal therapy: Findings from The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.Journal of the American Dental Association (1939) · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveDental dam (DD) isolation is widely recognized as the standard of care during non-surgical root canal treatment (RCT), yet its routine use by general dentists (GDs) remains inconsistent. This study utilized real-world data from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network ("Network") to quantify the frequency of DD use and identify practitioner and practice characteristics associated with it.
methodsA total of 153 Network dentists (49 endodontists, 104 GDs) enrolled 1860 adult patients requiring RCT across all six Network regions. After exclusions, data from 1701 patients were analyzed. Dentists recorded detailed pre- and post-treatment data for each RCT completed, including whether DD isolation was used. Statistical analyses were performed, including bivariate and multivariable models that adjusted for clustering of patients within practitioners.
resultsEndodontists reported near-universal DD use (99%). GDs used DDs in 72% of the teeth that received RCT, with wide inter-practitioner variability (SD=40%). Among GDs, higher DD use was significantly associated with practicing in large group or academic settings (OR=6.2, p=.04) and being located in the Midwest or Western Network region (OR=5.2, p=.005). GDs who identified as White, Asian, or Hispanic had higher DD use compared to other groups (OR=2.9, p=.09). DD use among GDs was not associated with tooth type, nor with the GD's sex, age, or professional membership.
conclusionsDespite improvements in DD use compared to prior reports, substantial variation persists among GDs. Practice setting and Network region are the strongest predictors of adherence to DD use. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: DD use during RCT remains inconsistent among GDs, with practice setting and Network region strongly associated with adherence. Targeted institutional and regional strategies may improve compliance, ensuring safer, higher-quality care and reinforcing DD isolation as a critical clinical standard in endodontics.
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