According to the World Health Organization, nearly half the world’s population suffers from some form of oral disease. Oral health is critical to overall health, making preventive and restorative dental visits necessary. A mainstay of those visits is the trusty saliva ejector.
Saliva ejectors are indispensable tools used in most preventive and restorative procedures. They keep the mouth clear of moisture and debris for patient comfort and the visual field clear for practitioner efficiency.
High-quality saliva ejectors and accessories will ensure clean, efficient procedures and the utmost patient comfort and care. In this article, we will cover the types of saliva ejectors available and their many uses and benefits.
Saliva ejectors differ from aspirators, which provide high-volume evacuation of saliva, aerosolized germs and viruses, and larger debris during complex surgical and restorative procedures. Saliva ejectors are used when low-volume suction is required. They keep the procedural field clear during routine preventive and restorative procedures, such as cleanings and fillings.
Saliva ejectors have many key uses and benefits. Most notably, they prevent patients from choking on particles and excess saliva, dry the mouth and teeth during restorations to facilitate dental bonding, and reduce aerosols from high-speed polishers and scalers. In addition to providing suction and evacuation functions, saliva ejectors also serve as retractors. They help retract the lips and cheeks, isolate the tongue, and protect the tongue and mucosal tissues from the suction forces.
The following is a selection of top-quality saliva ejectors and accessories available today.
Wire-reinforced dental saliva ejector tips attach to handpieces and are easily bent to shape. Comfortable and reliable, they minimize tissue and tongue irritation and maintain a clean workspace. Their soft tips are bonded to the tube for patient safety, and their aspiration holes facilitate constant fluid and light debris removal. A disposable product for optimal hygiene, these latex-free saliva ejector tips come in packs of 100 and a choice of colours, including clear/blue and assorted/lavender.
Offering hands-free convenience, pink petal saliva ejector holders rest against the inside of the cheek to ensure patient comfort while keeping saliva ejectors in place. They are ideal for preventive procedures, such as sealant application and ultrasonic scaling. To use, they simply slide onto saliva ejectors and adjust easily to retract the cheek and maintain suction at the back of the patient’s mouth. A single-use and latex-free product, they are available in packs of 50.
Used with vacuum valves, these push-on saliva ejector tips attach easily to the tops of valves. They are fully autoclavable and feature a tough, latex-free plastic construction that stands up to numerous sterilization cycles. Designed as replacement parts for saliva ejector systems, they come in grey and black single packs.
Whether keeping the mouth and teeth dry during sealant application or removing excess saliva, water, and aerosols during dental cleanings, saliva ejectors are essential items in a dental practitioner’s toolkit. The best saliva ejectors and peripherals are made for optimal patient comfort and care while enabling practitioners to do their best work every time.