Explore the hidden dangers within dental suction devices and educate yourself on how to increase your health safety during regular dental office procedures.

1. DENTAL SUCTION AND YOUR HEALTH
Patients Guide to understanding the Hidden Dangers

2. DENTAL SUCTION IS USED
TO REMOVE SALIVA AND
OTHER DEBRIS DURING
DENTAL PROCEDURES.
2 TYPES OF SUCTIONS
ARE USED:
1. HIGH VOLUME (HVE)
2. SALIVA EJECTOR (SE)

3. BOTH HVE AND SE
SUCTION HANG ON A
NEARBY POSITION AT
EACH DENTAL CHAIR.
HVE IS LARGE FOR
LARGE DEBRIS
SE IS SMALL FOR
SALIVA AND ALLOWS
BETTER ACCESS
NOTICE THE
DIFFERENCE IN COLORS
OF THE TUBING…

4. DENTAL VACUUM
TUBING DISCOLORS
WHEN CHEMICALS ARE
USED AFTER
PROCEDURES. THEY
ARE SPRAYED OR WIPED
ONTO THE TUBING'S.
ALCOHOL BASED
CLEANERS DRY OUT &
DETERIORATE THE
PERFORMANCE OF THE
TUBINGS.
TUBINGS ARE RARELY
CHANGED DURING THE
LIFE OF A DENTAL
CHAIR.

5. DENTAL SUCTION VALVES ARE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THINGS NOT ALWAYS
LOOKING AS THEY APPEAR. THE CDC RECOMMENDS FLUSHING THE HIGH VOLUME
TUBINGS WITH A CLEANER REGULARLY AND SALIVA EJECTOR BETWEEN PATIENTS.

6. Unfortunately, the “Flushing Lines” is not enforced. It is also very inconsistent.
Fact from past study: only 23% of the offices RINSED or DISINFECTED their
suction lines in between patients. In other words – 77% do NOTHING…..
To view study facts:
http://www.rdhmag.com/articles/print/volume-16/issue-1/columns/infection-control/back-flow-in-low-volume-
suction-lines-may-lead-to-potential-cross-contamination.html

7. YOUR DENTISTS SUCTION VALVES ARE A PETRI-DISH OF PATIENTS WHO CAME
THAT DAY, THAT WEEK AND THAT MONTH UNTIL SOMEONE FLUSHES THE LINE.
REMEMBER, BLOOD, DEBRIS, SALIVA, AMALGAM, DENTAL CHEMICALS AND
ANYTHING ELSE THAT GETS SUCKED INTO THE VALVE STAYS THERE….

8. EACH DENTAL OFFICE WILL VARY WHEN IT COMES TO DISINFECTING, CLEANING
AND HOW OFTEN THESE MAINTENANCE STEPS ARE TAKEN. INSIDE EACH DENTAL
OFFICE THE OPINIONS WILL VARY AS WELL. OUR SUGGESTION, ASK BOTH
DOCTOR & DENTAL ASSISTANTS WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL.
WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER?

9. SO WHAT'S THE
WORRY?

10. LOOKS CLEAN ON THE OUTSIDE –
HOWEVER, IF YOU CLOSE YOUR LIPS AROUND THE SALIVA EJECTOR TIP
AS SHOWN BELOW, 21% OF THE TIME BACKFLOW MAY OCCUR.
References:
Link to Dr Chris Millers Backflow Article: http://www.rdhmag.com/articles/print/volume-16/issue-
1/columns/infection-control/back-flow-in-low-volume-suction-lines-may-lead-to-potential-cross-
contamination.html
Photos on backflow of saliva ejector:
http://www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/2010/02_February/Departments/Tips_on_Technique.as
px

11. Research suggests that in these
situations previously suctioned
fluids are retracted into the
patient's mouth.
The study is titled Backflow in the
Saliva Ejector Suction. Whatever is
in the valve can go into your
mouth…
View Research Article:
http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/faq/sal
iva.htm

12. STILL NOT A BIG
DEAL?

13. EVER WONDER IF YOUR THE
NEXT PATIENT AFTER AN
AMALGAM REMOVAL?
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED
IN A CLEAN SUCTION VALVE?
MERCURY-RATED MASKS AND RESPIRATORS ARE REQUIRED. BOTH
HVE AND SE SUCTION ARE SIMULTANIOUSLY USED TO REDUCE
DISPERSION OF VAPOR AND PARTICULATE

14. HIGH RISK PATIENTS INCLUDING HIV, HEPATITIS, MRSA, ETC.
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN A CLEAN SUCTION VALVE?
THE VALVE IS CIRCLED IN RED

15. DENTAL IS
EVOLVING

16. US VETERANS DENTAL HEALTH CLINICS MUST DISASSEMBLE AND
STERILIZE ALL HVE AND SE VALVES “EVERY PATIENT”
EFFECTIVE IN 2014
References:
Link to photos and process to clean: http://yaegerdental.com/blog/
DID YOU KNOW?

17. NEW DISPOSABLE HVE AND SE VALVES WERE INTRODUCED IN 2014 –
THEY ARE INFUSED WITH ANTIMICROBIAL TO PREVENT GROWTH
DID YOU KNOW?

18. HOSPITALS REQUIRE FLUSHING AFTER EVERY SURGICAL OPERATING
PROCEDURE TO REMOVE THE BLOOD AND OTHER DEBRIS FOR FEAR
OF CROSS CONTAMINATION.
DID YOU KNOW?

19. BACKFLOW SALIVA TIP DEVICES ARE AVAILABLE. THESE REDUCE THE
LIKELIHOOD OF THE SE VALVE SUCTION BACKFLOW
DID YOU KNOW?

20. WHAT CAN YOU DO?

21. 1. ASK YOUR DENTIST AND DENTAL ASSISTANT HOW OFTEN THEY
FLUSH THE DENTAL SUCTION LINES. DO THEY DIFFER IN ANSWER?
2. ASK HOW OFTEN THEY AUTOCLAVE THE ACTUAL METAL SUCTION
VALVE? ASK FOR VALIDATION.
3. HOW CLEAN IS THE OFFICE AND HOW OLD IS THE EQUIPMENT?
CARPETS CANT BE STERILIZED BUT HOSPITAL-GRADE FLOORS
CAN. IF YOUR OFFICE IS FROM THE 1980’s THIS SHOULD WAVE A
RED FLAG.
4. DOES YOUR DENTAL OFFICE OFFER DISPOSABLE OPTIONS? NEW
DISPOSABLE VALVES ARE CLEAN AND ELIMINATE THE WORRY.
5. ASK YOUR OFFICE WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL IF A INSTRUMENT
FALLS ON THE GROUND? WHAT IF THE HVE VALVE FALLS?
EDUCATE YOURSELF
& ASK QUESTIONS