Study: Dental Suction Devices Reduce Oral Oxygen Buildup
A new study evaluated the effectiveness of dental suction devices in reducing oxygen concentrations in the mouth during procedures using supplemental oxygen. The findings indicate certain suction types are more effective at mitigating surgical fire risks.
A recent study published in Anesthesia Progress evaluated how effectively common dental suction devices reduce oxygen buildup in the mouth during procedures using supplemental oxygen. Excessive oxygen can increase the risk of surgical fire when an ignition source is present.
Using a laboratory model of a pediatric oral cavity, researchers compared high-volume evacuation (HVE), Yankauer suction (YS), and a saliva ejector (SE) during oxygen delivery at 5 L/min. HVE and YS reduced oxygen concentrations below 30% within 45 seconds and brought levels close to normal atmospheric concentrations, while the saliva ejector was unable to reduce oxygen below 30%.
Without suction, oxygen levels exceeded 30% within about 20 to 25 seconds and rose to nearly 90%. The findings support the use of intraoral suctioning before dental procedures involving supplemental oxygen, with HVE and YS proving more effective than a saliva ejector at reducing oxygen pooling.
The authors note that additional clinical research is needed to confirm the findings across different patient ages and treatment settings. This research contributes to enhancing patient safety during dental procedures.