When placing a fixed bridge, what should you avoid doing with dental dam placement?

When placing a fixed bridge, it is important to avoid punching a hole where the missing tooth is. The function of a dental dam is to create a sterile working area and to isolate teeth from saliva and other contaminants during the procedure. If a hole is punched directly over the area where the missing tooth is located, it compromises the integrity of the dam, allowing contaminants to enter the working area. This can lead to complications such as infection or suboptimal bonding of the bridge.

The dental dam should remain intact around the areas of the remaining teeth and the pontic site to maintain a clean and controlled environment for the procedure. Therefore, keeping the dental dam in place without interruptions is crucial for the success of the fixed bridge.