A declogging assembly (20) is configured for use with a suction conduit (10). The suction conduit has a head (14) at a first end (15) and a vacuum tube connection (16) at a second end (17). The assembly includes a body (30). The body defines a first aperture (32), a second aperture (34), and a third aperture (36). The assembly also includes a plug (40) disposed within the body (30). The plug has a surface (42) configured to contact the head (14) of the suction conduit (10) so as to move the plug from a first position, in which the first aperture (32) is in fluid communication with the second aperture (34), to a second position, in which the first aperture (32) is in fluid communication with the third aperture (36). The assembly (20) also includes a biasing member (50) configured to bias the plug into the first position.

An oral negative-pressure therapy system includes a container and absorbent insert for the container. The container includes a baffle inside an interior of the container. A fluid passageway extends along the baffle for delivering fluid (e.g., a mixture of air and saliva) into the container. The absorbent insert for absorbing liquid (e.g., saliva) in the container may is over the baffle. At least one of the baffle and the absorbent insert is configured to maintain a fluid flow path between the baffle and the absorbent insert to maintain fluid communication between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of the container. The absorbent insert and/or the container may be designed and constructed to burst air bubbles in the aspirated liquid. In one or more embodiments, the absorbent insert is replaceable so that a spent absorbent insert can be replaced with a new, fresh absorbent insert.

The apparatus and method of amalgam waste recovery provides for the effective recovery of amalgam waste, including mercury and other toxic substances, during a dental procedure. The apparatus includes a novel filter that effectively captures waste and a recovery method that provides for the efficient recovery of mercury, gold, and silver waste during dental procedures. The filter includes a cylindrical shape that effective entraps dental waste both along the sides and upon the flat, circular end. The apparatus may be composed of cellulose or paper allowing recovery of mercury vapors and other by-products.

The present invention provides dental amalgam recycling systems, useful for recycling particles from a dental liquid effluent drawn, for example, from a suctioning device.

An individual-patient one-day oral care kit comprises a housing and a plurality of sealed trays disposed within the housing. Each of the sealed trays contains oral hygiene components. By one approach at least one of the sealed trays contains an oral hygiene component comprising a toothbrush that is unique to that particular tray. By one approach all of the sealed trays contain at least one same oral hygiene component. By one approach each of the sealed trays is configured to serve a patient's oral hygiene compliance requirements in accordance with an event driven schedule during a single day.

The present invention provides dental amalgam recycling systems, useful for recycling particles from a dental liquid effluent drawn, for example, from a suctioning device.

An oral cavity suction system that incorporates a disposable saliva ejector residing along the interior of the patient's cheek that utilizes a single planar, double leaf shaped plate design that is embossed on their inner faces with a series of arced ribs and folded about its midpoint. The arced ribs form a series of channels about perimeter of the device that directs saliva into a trough running along the linear axis of both of the plates to direct this saliva into a connected U connector that hooks around the patient's cheek. A sterile suction tube is also connected on one end to the U connector suction tube and on its other end to a quick connect fitting that mates to a tube adapted with a fitting for connection to a high volume suction pump.

Example embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide an oral care device including a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, a suction connector provided at the proximal end of the handle and configured to be coupled to a suction apparatus, a plurality of bristles provided proximate the distal end of the handle and configured in a spiral pattern around a circumference of the distal end of the handle, and one or more suction ports provided proximate the distal end of the handle.

A surgical suction device is disclosed that includes a suction tube having a first longitudinal axis, a proximal opening, and a distal opening; a guide tube that is substantially coextensive with and parallel to the suction tube, and has a second longitudinal axis, a proximal opening, and a distal opening; a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end; and a junction point having a proximal opening and a distal opening; wherein the stylet is disposed along the second longitudinal axis and encircled by the guide tube, and urging the stylet through the guide tube along the second longitudinal axis through the junction conduit translates the distal end of the stylet to the distal opening of the junction point. The guide tube may effectively cut the length of the handle member in half.

A device for helping maintain a mouth of a patient in an open position during a dental procedure may include a novel suction device that preferentially aspirates fluids and not the tissues of the mouth.