Dental dams are rectangular sheets of latex used to isolate specific teeth during dental procedures. Testing laboratories, as well as manufacturers of dental dams, exercise bands, rubber bands and tourniquets will be the primary users of a proposed new ASTM standard on dental dams.

ASTM WK28312, Test Method for Quantitation of Powder on Dental Dams, is currently being developed by Subcommittee D11.40 on Consumer Rubber Products, which is part of ASTM International Committee D11 on Rubber.

Donning powders are used in the manufacturing process to lubricate rubber products so they will not stick together and to facilitate the ease of donning on a form or hand-form. The proposed new standard will allow dental dam manufacturers to be able to detect the level of powders in their manufacturing process and eventually produce lower powder-containing dental dam.

According to Kelly Horton, laboratory director, LEAP Testing Service, while another powder-related D11.40 standard, ASTM D6124, Test Method for Residual Powder on Medical Gloves, does exist, the need for a specific standard for dental dams was still apparent because gloves have a four-sided surface area (outside palm, inside palm, inside back-of-hand, outside back-of-hand), while dental dams only have front and back sides.

Horton encourages all interested parties to join D11.40 in the further development of WK28312.

ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

ASTM Committee D11 Next Meeting: June 13-16, 2011, June Committee Week, Anaheim, Calif.
Technical Contact: Kelly Horton, LEAP Testing Service, Sayre, Pa., Phone: 570-882-4645; horton_kelly@guthrie.org
ASTM Staff Contact: Joe Koury, Phone: 610-832-9804; jkoury@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #8755