Home » Dental Suction

Dental Suction

Types of Dental Suctions

There are two main types of dental suctions that dentists use: the saliva ejector and the high volume suction.

The saliva ejector does exactly what its name implies; it sucks saliva out of the mouth. It is the classic one. Many times dentists will have the patient close down on this suction so that it can suction away any remaining saliva in the patient’s mouth.

The other main type of dental suction is the high volume suction. This suction is so strong that the dental assistant simply holds it close to where the dentist is working and it will suck away any nearby debris, much like a strong vacuum cleaner can suck away crumbs without actually touching them.

Why Do Dentists Use Suction?

There are several reasons why your cosmetic dentist may whip out a dental suction during your procedure, all of which are to keep you safe and comfortable throughout your treatment. Some of these include:

Prevention of Saliva & Secretion Buildup: Many treatments require your mouth to be dry in order to create an air-tight bond. If there’s too much saliva in your mouth, it can impact the strength of the bonding agent.
Protecting the Airways: If you’re under sedation during your treatment, the dental suction device can keep your airways unobstructed.
Preventing Choking: The presence of foreign objects in your mouth can cause you to produce additional saliva and result in a fear of choking while you’re in the treatment chair. Suction helps remove this additional saliva and makes you feel more comfortable.
Removing Aerosolized Viruses & Germs From the Air: Using fast-moving instruments such as polishers can turn your saliva into an aerosol plume. This can cause illnesses and bacteria to become airborne without the use of suction.

What are the Benefits of Using Dental Suction?

Dental suction devices help patients feel more comfortable throughout their treatment and minimize the spread of germs and bacteria that may be present in your saliva. This allows patients to receive dental treatment without needing to worry about their health.