• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mesiodistal widths at the cervical level of primary second molars in Korean children, and to compare them with commercial rubber dam clamps commonly used in pediatric dentistry. Dental casts of 115 primary and mixed dentition children were studied. Cervical mesiodistal width (C-MD) was measured at the clinical cervical level of each primary second molar from buccal and lingual sides using a digital caliper (Absolute, Mitutoyo, Kawasaki, Japan). The data were compared with mesiodistal widths of rubber dam clamps #203/204, #10/11, and #205 (Dentech, Japan). C-MDs of primary mandibular second molars were larger than those of primary maxillary second molars, and C-MDs at buccal sides were larger than those of lingual sides. All C-MDs showed statistically significant discrepancies to corresponding widths on clamps (p < 0.05). However the amount of discrepancy was mild in maxillary teeth, while up to 1 mm of discrepancy was shown in mandibular teeth. In conclusion, C-MDs measured in this study imply a relatively fair fit of #10/#11 or #203/#204 clamps on primary maxillary second molars, while suggesting our need for a better clamp with proper size for primary mandibular second molars.