I would like to share a clinical case demonstrating the combined use of ZOO and a rubber dam, along with photographs.
In my practice, I use the ZOO Mini. However, when patients bite on the device, the mouth opening becomes limited, making treatment difficult. Therefore, I place a bite block on the opposite side to maintain adequate opening.
It is possible to manage saliva using a saliva ejector on the opposite side, but using ZOO allows for more reliable suction. It effectively prevents saliva from entering through gaps between the rubber dam and the tooth, providing a more stable working field.
Additionally, as with the use of a saliva ejector and rubber dam, negative pressure can develop in the oral cavity. This may cause discomfort or panic in some patients due to the sealed environment created by the rubber dam sheet.
(This is mainly due to mouth breathing; nasal breathing generally resolves the issue.)
To address this, I create a small օդ hole in the center of the rubber dam sheet, as shown in the photo, to allow airflow.
One drawback of this method is that the main suction line is occupied by ZOO, making it unavailable during the procedure.
Since strong suction is not always required during rubber dam isolation, it may be more practical to connect ZOO to the saliva ejector line instead of the main suction line.
(A connector for this purpose would be very useful, if available.)
However, this may limit the use of a micro-suction device, so in such cases, the α model might be more suitable.
(I have not personally used the α model or other sizes, so this is based on theoretical considerations, but structurally, it should be compatible.)
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
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■ Figure Legends
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Figure 1: ZOO positioned with rubber dam applied
Figure 2: Post-operative view after removal of the rubber dam
※ The positional relationship between the tooth and the ZOO tube can be observed
Figure 3: During root canal filling
It is important not to place the ZOO tube too close to the tooth, as this may interfere with rubber dam clamp placement. Maintaining a slight space allows proper isolation.
In this case, no saliva contamination occurred during the procedure, enabling stress-free treatment.
Author: Dr. H.T. Dentist, Tokyo, Japan
