The protein content of dental rubber dams

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyse the protein content of 17 commonly used rubber dams and to determine if they contained known allergenic proteins. Methods: Proteins were eluted with buffer from 17 brands of commercially available rubber dams. The quantity of eluted protein was measured and expressed in micrograms in every gram of rubber. The molecular weights of the individual proteins eluted were then measured after resolution on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and compared with those of known allergens. Results: The rubber dams were shown to contain significant amounts of protein (950–5850 μg). The subsequent analysis of these proteins using SDS-PAGE confirmed that some of these proteins were of the same molecular weight as known allergens. Conclusions: The results of this study confirm that all the rubber dams tested contained significant amounts of protein. The molecular weights of these proteins correspond with those of known allergens, and they could, therefore, be a cause of hypersensitivity reactions to dental rubber dams.