New Disposable Valve Responds to Risk of Infection During Dental Procedures

(NewsUSA) - Sponsored News - There is no doubt that infection control in dentistry has come a long way in recent years, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. In fact, for years, studies have shown the potential risks associated with backflow, which is caused by greater negative pressure in the patient's mouth than in the saliva-evacuator system, more commonly recognized as that piece of equipment used to remove saliva and other fluids from your mouth. The dental hygienist or assistant sticks the saliva ejector straw or tip in your mouth to extract saliva and water and keep you from choking or dribbling on yourself.

The reason for concern, experts say, is that when a patient closes his or her lips around the saliva-ejector tip, there can be a decrease in the vacuum-line pressure, which may allow previously evacuated fluid and germs in the line from other patients to flow backward into the current patient's mouth.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this happens to about 1 in 5 patients who close their lips around the saliva-ejector tip. And if you think that keeping your mouth open will prevent cross-contamination due to backflow, think again. According to St. Louis-based Stoma Dental, backflow can occur with an open or closed mouth, or when low-volume saliva ejection and other high-volume suction occurs simultaneously during a dental procedure.

One of the problems is that viruses and bacteria can survive for days in the dark, moist environment of evacuation tubing, making it easy for disease transmission to take place from one patient to the next. By now you're probably dreading your next trip to the dentist, but a new device created by Stoma Dental may hold the answer. The DOVE Backflow Prevention Valve prevents backflow and eliminates this cross-contamination concern between patients.

"The new SE valve allows only for one-way flow or suction, and an internal flap prevents any opportunity for backflow," says Gytis Udrys, DDS, in private practice with Powell and Udrys, Saline, MI.

For more information, please visit www.besafedental.com.