Standardization News

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.

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.

According to Kelly Horton, laboratory director, LEAP Testing Service, while another powder-related D11.40 standard, 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.

CONTACT Technical Information: Kelly Horton, LEAP Testing Service • Sayre, Pa. • Phone: 570-887-4645 • E-mail: horton_kelly@guthrie.org O ASTM Staff: Joe Koury • Phone: 610-832-9804 • E-mail: jkoury@astm.org O Upcoming Meeting: June 13-16 • June Committee Week • Anaheim, Calif.