Which of the following is a common use for dental clamps?

Dental clamps are commonly used to stabilize the dental dam during dental procedures. A dental dam is a thin, flexible sheet used to isolate the teeth and maintain a dry working field, particularly during restorative procedures. The clamps, often made of metal, serve to securely hold the dental dam in place around the selected tooth, ensuring that it remains effective and does not shift. This stabilization is crucial for the success of many dental treatments, as it helps maintain visibility and access to the area being worked on, while also protecting adjacent teeth and the soft tissues in the mouth.

The other options focus on different aspects of dental treatment that do not involve the function of clamps. Extracting teeth, filling cavities, and whitening teeth are procedures that may require various tools, but they do not involve the use of dental clamps for their execution. Each of these procedures has its own specific set of instruments and protocols, highlighting the specialized role of dental clamps in maintaining a controlled environment during certain dental operations.