They used the rubber dam on me and I was ok with it.
I also opted to have oxygen. It was a while ago and I remember there being a lot of suctioning and I also have a vague memory of a big "vacuum hose" that you mentioned.
But when I had my teeth with crowns removed, I had none of those precautions and there ended up being mercury underneath the crowns. I'm still glad I did it and will just keep de-toxing the metals the best I can.
Having my mercury fillings and root canal tooth and crowns removed are the best thing I ever did; I could feel my body thanking me.