DryShield vs Cotton Roll Isolation During Sealants Placement: Efficiency and Patient Preference

DryShield (DS) is an all-in-one isolation system. It combines the tasks of fluid evacuation, tongue and cheek retraction, and serves as a bite block. Its design allows it to suction and isolate half the oral cavity at a time.

Cotton Roll Isolation requires placing cotton rolls along the buccal mucosa, especially over the parotid glands ducts for maxillary teeth. For the mandibular teeth, the cotton rolls are placed in the buccal vestibule and the floor of the mouth (between the lower buccal mucosa and underneath and/or between the tongue). With this technique, a high-speed evacuation of saliva and water is used.