In different types of procedures in a dental office, there is the need to remove fluids from the patient’s mouth, typically during treatments when having the patient spit out the fluid is not an option.
For large amounts of water used for rinsing the mouth or during specific procedures that require rinsing of the tooth or gum area, high-volume evacuators (HVE) are used. These devices are able to pull higher amounts of water from the mouth, quickly eliminating the water needed for rinsing.
To remove accumulations of saliva, a lower volume type of device is most effective. The saliva ejector (SE) is designed to offer the correct low levels of suction required to remove the small volume of saliva that normally accumulates in the mouth. By using this device rather than the HVE, there is less vacuum and less discomfort for the patient.
Considerations
The ideal saliva ejector is easy to operate and also easy to clean. Controlling the on and off function of the tip of the ejector, which is the component in the patient’s mouth, allows for the low-level vacuum to be on or off as needed. Tips are designed to be single use, and it is also critical to ensure the rest of the unit is sterilized according to the correct protocols.
Control of the valve in the SE is typically through a lever mechanism. This is simple and easy for the dental professional to use and does not require looking at the device to control the on and off feature.
Many of the systems allow the saliva ejector to be autoclaved, which makes cleaning and sterilization easy. It is essential to verify the SE is designed for this type of cleaning as autoclaving one not designed for the process can result in SE failure.
