patients guide to dental suction safety and your health

DENTAL SUCTION AND YOUR HEALTHPatients Guide to understanding the Hidden Dangers

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)

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…

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.

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.

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

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….

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?

SO WHAT'S THE WORRY?

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.aspx

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/saliva.htm

STILL NOT A BIG DEAL?

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

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

THE VALVE IS CIRCLED IN RED

DENTAL IS EVOLVING

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?

NEW DISPOSABLE HVE AND SE VALVES WERE INTRODUCED IN 2014 – THEY ARE INFUSED WITH ANTIMICROBIAL TO PREVENT GROWTH

DID YOU KNOW?

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

DID YOU KNOW?

BACKFLOW SALIVA TIP DEVICES ARE AVAILABLE. THESE REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE SE VALVE SUCTION BACKFLOW

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

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