Do they use dams anymore?

Is it still common practice to use dental dams when doing dental procedures or have they become a thing of the past, because everyone I know seems to know them more from the sex-ed point of view.

Do they use dams anymore?
Dental dams are still being used but each dentist is different. We were required to used them all the time in dental school as a learning mechanism. Out in private practice, each dentist uses their own disgression. Procedures such as most root canals and certain fillings that require very good isolation will need them. They are pretty popular for young kids as to prevent them from accidentally swallowing something.
Reply:Dental dams are used any time the dentist needs to isolate a tooth. They are almost always used during a root canal and many pedodontists (specializing in children) use them because it keeps water and tooth "gunk" from going down the patients throat.
Reply:Yep, we still use them. Some office use them more than others. We use them for root canals and if we are having a hard time keeping the tooth isolated.
Reply:yup still used but every dentist is different
Reply:I use a dam for most root canals and many bonded fillings. If it is the quickest and easiest way to isolate a dry field, then it's my first choice. If I see 10-12 patients a day, I may use the dam 4 or 5 times a day.