Whether it’s a routine cleaning or you’re performing fillings, sealants, or fluoride applications, keeping the oral cavity dry and visible is a constant challenge. Having to fight through saliva and even blood can slow you down and impact results, and it’s not comfortable for the patient either.
Saliva ejectors are essential in modern dentistry for these reasons, empowering professionals to work diligently across a multitude of procedures while ensuring favorable patient outcomes.
Understanding how to use saliva ejector as part of your process can save you time and stress, so we’ll walk you through the ins and outs below. You’ll also learn when to use a saliva ejector and where to source the best selection of saliva ejectors, right here at My DDS Supply.
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What is a Saliva Ejector?
Before we can get into saliva ejector use guidelines let’s take a step back. What are these tools in the first place, and why are they so important?
These small, flexible suction devices are used to remove excess saliva and fluids from the mouth during dental procedures. They’re made of a thin, bendable plastic tube attached to a low-volume suction system.
There are many types of suction in dentistry, and the saliva ejector is at the less intense end of the spectrum. While high-volume evacuators (HVEs) remove larger debris and fluids, saliva ejectors provide a gentle, continuous suction simply to keep a section of the oral cavity dry.
When to Use a Saliva Ejector
Knowing when to use a saliva ejector is pretty straightforward - anytime you’re operating in a patient’s mouth and excess moisture accumulation is a concern, these should be employed. There are a few specific circumstances that come to mind.
During Restorative and Preventive Procedures
Saliva ejectors prevent excess moisture from interfering with materials like composites and adhesives during cavity fillings, sealants, fluoride treatments, and other restorative work. After all, a dry environment is imperative for proper bonding and long-term restoration success.
For Patient Comfort During Cleanings
Even routine cleanings call for gentle suction so the patient doesn’t choke on their own saliva or the water put into the oral cavity by ultrasonic scalers and handpieces.
A saliva ejector keeps the patient comfortable by continuously clearing fluids, and it also saves time as there are fewer interruptions for the patient to spit.
Supporting Procedures Requiring a Dry Field
Crown cementation, impression-taking, and bonding are frequent procedures in modern dentistry that call for a dry working environment. Unfortunately, the mouth isn’t exactly conducive to that.
So, practitioners will rely on saliva ejectors to control moisture and ensure accurate details that support favorable patient outcomes. This also prevents you from having to deal with frustrating redos.
Post-Procedure Fluid Removal
Saliva ejectors are also used to remove residual fluids after treatments involving irrigation or rinsing. This keeps the patient comfortable and prevents choking or excessive swallowing.
How to Use Saliva Ejector: Step-by-Step Guide
Given its significance and frequent use in your practice, you better know how to use saliva ejector instruments effectively and efficiently. It can quite literally make or break your patient outcomes. So, here’s a step-by-step guide to saliva ejector use
Preparing the Saliva Ejector
The obvious first step in saliva ejector use is preparation. Each patient will have their own device for sanitary reasons. Attach it to the low-volume suction hose and make sure you have a secure fit to avoid air leaks that impact suction efficiency.
You might need to bend the tube slightly to form a shape that will comfortably rest in the patient’s mouth without moving around much.
Positioning for Maximum Efficiency
Speaking of positioning, this is more important than most professionals realize. The device should be placed in the least obstructive area of the mouth, typically along the lingual (tongue-side) surface of the lower molars.
Angle the saliva ejector to capture saliva and water runoff while avoiding excessive contact with soft tissues, which can cause dryness and in turn irritation.
Managing Suction Levels
Proper saliva ejector use is an ongoing battle when it comes to finding the right suction level. There’s a fine line between not enough suction and overdoing it. Too strong is uncomfortable from the patient’s perspective, while too weak is ineffective from your point of view.
You might find that gentle fluid removal is easier when you use short pauses to prevent excessive suction on the oral mucosa, which could cause a vacuum effect.
Proper Patient Communication
You probably already do this in any procedure, but always take a moment to explain how you’ll use a saliva ejector to support whatever you’re doing in the patient’s mouth.
Reassure them that they can give you a signal when they need to spit (especially for ultrasonic cleanings), and when you see moisture start building up, signal them to close their mouth around the suction tip and spit.
Continuous Function Throughout the Procedure
Keep the saliva ejector running consistently in the background while you work. You might even have a hygienist on hand specifically to manage this part of the process so you can focus on the procedure itself.
Longer procedures often call for periodic repositioning of the ejector for optimal moisture control. Make sure you’re avoiding direct contact with the tongue or soft tissues to avoid the issues associated with dryness and irritation we keep harping on.
Safe Removal and Disposal
When it’s all said and done you don’t need to worry about how to clean saliva ejector - they’re intended to be disposable given the circumstances they’re used in. Simply turn off the suction before gently removing the ejector from the patient’s mouth.
Then, dispose of the used saliva ejector in accordance with your practice’s infection control protocols. Follow up by flushing the suction line with a cleaning solution after use to prevent bacterial buildup. There you have it, all you need to know about how to use saliva ejector!
Set Yourself Up For Success With Premium Saliva Ejectors!
Proper saliva ejector use starts with sourcing the right instruments, so don’t settle for anything less than the best from My DDS Supply. Whether you need a saliva ejector or suction device for other dental suctioning techniques, we’ve got you covered with the industry’s finest.
We know that every detail matters in a dental practice, which is why we stock only the best tools and supplies - empowering you to focus on what you do best.
Our ejectors from PlastCare USA feature a smooth, rounded tip for patient comfort. They’re a universal fit for standard connections and are disposable so you don’t have to stress about hygiene.
Whether you’re performing restorative work, cleanings, or surgical procedures, you’ll enjoy unparalleled reliability and convenience when you use our devices.
So, browse our dental suction tips, surgical aspirator tips, self seal sterilization pouches, and everything else you need to keep your practice running smoothly. Change the way you source the essentials for your practice at My DDS Supply today as we wrap things up below.
Wrapping Up Our Saliva Ejector Use Guide
That does it for our guide on how to use saliva ejector. It’s fairly straightforward, and you should now feel confident in not just when to use a saliva ejector but saliva ejector use guidelines in general.
Favorable patient outcomes start with selecting tools that improve your performance and minimize contamination risks. Your search ends at My DDS Supply. Upgrade your operatory today and keep your practice stocked with the industry’s best!