Australian based researchers Peta Cox and Ruth McNair have conducted studies exploring the use of dental dams in the lesbian and same sex attracted women's community.

This research conclusively found that women in our communities did not enjoy using dental dams and that dental dams were not effective in preventing the transmission of sexually transmissible infections (STIs). The only scenario in which a dental dam has been found to be effective in preventing or reducing the transmission of an STI is in the case of herpes when there is an outbreak present.

These findings are reiterated in the paper The practical and symbolic purpose of dental dams in lesbian safer sex promotion by Juliet Richters and Stevie Clayton. The Clayton and Richters paper is based on Sydney and NSW research into lesbians and same sex attracted women and their use of dental dams. It also provides some history into the adoption of dental dams by the lesbian community as an initial response to HIV. Now it is known that sex between women is very low risk in terms of HIV transmission.

In generalist health services and sexual health clinics dental dams are not recommended to heterosexual couples for use when performing oral sex on a woman.

Dental dams are used successfully in sex worker communities predominantly in anal based oral sex to prevent the spread of hepatitis.

Economically dental dams are costly. As a not for profit organisation ACON, and specifically the Lesbian and Same Sex Attracted Women's Health Project, have scarce access to funding.

ACON has limited stock of dental dams for distribution upon request.

Further reading

Do women use dental dams? Safer sex practices of lesbians and other women who have sex with women

The practical and symbolic purpose of dental dams in lesbian safer sex promotion (pdf)