Rubber dam perforation templates are diverse and vary from one manufacturer to another.
Many rubber dam brands, at least those considered “suitable for aesthetic dentistry” have usually two kind of surfaces, the front (which is opaque and/or textured) and the back (which is glossy and shiny in order to be more slippery). Traditionally, rubber dam is marked on the front, making it sometimes look dirty or stained from the clone stamp ink once the rubber dam is in place.
We would like to propose 4 alternatives either to build your own clone stamp or to print a paper pattern.
Fig.1
1 Stamp the BACK
Styleitaliano proposes a mirrored template to actually mark this pattern in the back side of any rubber dam sheet to keep it clean for documentation purposes. In this FREE design, perforations are inverted to be used from the back, every perforation has its own tooth number and the suggested size of the perforation (XL, L, M, S, XS), which helps very much to obtain even better and cleaner field isolation: XL=extra large, L=large, M=medium, S=Small, XS=extra small. The holes near the centre are suitable for unique tooth perforations as it is commonly done in endodontics.
Fig.2
2 Mark the FRONT
When marking the rubber dam from the front side, we use this template, but not as a clone stamp, this design delivers too much ink, is better to have a punched template with this design so the rubber dam can be marked from the front, that way only a little mark will be visible and then it will disappear after the rubber dam punch. Numbers are positioned normally, not mirrored. The assistant or doctor will use the cardboard or printed pattern as reference for using the right punch size.
Fig.3
3 FRONT or BACK
Alternative version with no teeth numbers but with sizes, delivers less ink. Is still more suitable for stamping in the back, but can be used sideways and in both versions clone stamp or cardboard.
Fig.4
4 UNIVERSAL
Only the hole position for the expert operator. Can be used front or back and in both versions.
Fig.5
Instructions to build your own clone stamp:
1. Download the desired image and resize to 15cm x 15cm.
2. The image measurements must match your rubber dam box measures (15 x 15 normally) but is suggested to measure it yourself. If it is not a match, reduce or increase the frame size of the image in Photoshop (do not increase or decrease size).
3. In specialized Stationery stores, ask for a clone stamp construction according to this file, and ask for a base (wood or plastic) with the dimensions of your box.
4. Once the clone stamp is ready, stamp your rubber dam sheets inside the box. Be sure to place them accordingly to where you need the stamp, font or back.
5. Buy a big ink pad, to be able to impregnate all the clone stamp. Do not abuse ink quantity or pressure, otherwise the mark will be too strong and useless.
