Moisture Control in Dentistry: A dental assistant techniques

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Moisture control in dentistry is the removal of excess saliva from the patient mouth during any dental procedures or some dental procedures like amalgam filling, composite filling, root canal therapy, gingivectomy, alveolectomy, deep curettage, and many others.

As a dental assistant, you should be able to describe a way you can control moisture during dental procedures. A dental assistant should know the importance of surgery duties and office duties.

In recent years, most instruments have a number, and the name is more important, except when some dentist who only ask for the number. However, this is often stamped on the instrument, so there is less difficulty involved in identification.

Why is Moisture control Important in Dentistry?

Although, Dentists have major challenges in moisture control, in recent time much improvement has been established with the various methods of controlling moisture during any dental procedures.

Development of filling properties is active when there is no contamination in the area in which the procedure is been done.
For clear visibility.
When there is no contamination procedure it will be easier for example during filling.
Easy visibility of the operating side of the oral cavity should be active.
Remove saliva and water so that the patient won’t swallow debris, blood or choking.

Oral Evacuation System

The high volume of oral evacuation system is used during the dental procedure when the handpiece is being utilized (Also called oral evacuators).

The two types of oral evacuation systems include saliva ejectors and high-volume evacuators.

1. Saliva injector

This method removes saliva from the floor of the mouth. It could be used in conjunction with a rubber dam, cotton wool, gauze, for just a period of isolation such as teeth.

2. High volume oral evacuation

Oral evacuators are used to remove saliva and blood flow from the patient mouth, it also gets rid of excess water and debris during a dental procedure.

Uses of high volume oral evaluation

Maintain the mouth free from, saliva, blood, water, and debris.
Reduce the bacterial aerosol caused by the high-speed handpiece.
It also retracts the tongue.
The high-volume evacuator can also be used to separate the tongue from the cheek away from the mouth whenever a dentist is working on any procedures.

What are the types of high volume oral evaluation?

It is available straight or with a slight angle in the middle. The high-volume evacuator has two beveled working ends, the operative suction tip, and the surgical suction tip.

The surgical suction tip is used to control moisture in the anterior portion of the mouth while the operative suction tips are used generally during the procedure.

It is available straight or with a slight angle in the middle. All types have two beveled working ends. The bevel is slanted downward for use in the anterior portion of the mouth. It is your duties to place the evacuator in the patient’s mouth before the dentist positions the handpiece and the mouth mirror.

Isolation techniques

During some dental procedures, the teeth must be isolated to be kept dry and clean as soon as possible. There are three different types of common isolation techniques a dental assistant normally use. These include; cotton rolls, a dry-angle technique or a dental dam.

1. Cotton rolls

One method of ensuring dry conditions is the use of cotton rolls. If the rubber dam is not an option, cotton wool or cotton roll can be used as an alternative method to control moisture during the operative area.

2. Dry angles Techniques

Some dentist will use a triangle shape absorbent pad to help isolate posterior areas in both the Maxillary.

These pads block the flow of saliva and protect the tissue in this area.

3. The Dental Dam Techniques

The dental dam is used to control infection in the dental setting, and to protect the patient from swallowing debris, and allows the dentist/dental nurse to gain more access to the patient’s teeth by retracting the lips, especially prior to the insertion of silicate fillings, and during root canal therapy, tongue, and gingiva.

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Westgate Dental Centre is a dental clinic in Maple Ridge BC.