There are many different applications where vacuums are used to perform specific operations. In dental offices, vacuums are required for saliva ejectors (SE) as well as HVE or high-volume evacuators. The use of the vacuum allows for precision control in removing liquid from the patient’s mouth during procedures, including continuous low volume saliva removal during procedures or high volume liquid removal for rinsing and cleaning.
There are several parts of the vacuum systems used in these types of applications. Any loss of the vacuum throughout the system can result in limited ability to remove the liquid, and with even moderate loss of the vacuum, there may be no liquid removal. There are several easy checks to perform to determine if the problem is in the dental saliva ejector, the line or a problem with the vacuum canisters.
Getting Started
The first step before checking the condition of any vacuum canisters is to make sure the saliva ejector is working correctly. Depress the lever or move the lever to the on and off position and check for the presence of suction. If the lever is not moving correctly, change the saliva ejector unit and retest.
In some cases, the lines leading into the vacuum canisters become clogged with build-up from the saliva and debris. This may indicate a low vacuum level that is a result of a poor seal on the canister or a problem with the seal.
There is also a line that runs from the vacuum canister to the actual vacuum system. This line typically has a filter, and if the filter is dirty, it can result in a loss of the vacuum and subsequent suction problems.
Replacement parts, including canister O-rings, lid assemblies and bodies in both small and large sizes are a low-cost option to complete a repair.