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Placing the HVE
Also called: suctioning, evacuation
Hold the big suction close to the work to catch water and spray at the source.
The HVE (high-volume evacuator) works best when the opening is close to the tooth being treated, on the cheek side or tongue side depending on the area, and does not grab the cheek or tongue. During ultrasonic scaling, HVE removes far more aerosol than a saliva ejector. For a right-handed operator, the assistant passes instruments with the left hand, so the HVE is usually held in the right hand.
What it is used for
- Move with the clinician from area to area, and ask how they like it positioned.
- Keep the tip from touching the soft palate or back of the throat, which can trigger gagging.
Safety and care
- Use a new disposable tip, or a heat-sterilized reusable one, for each patient.
Related
Sources: Dentsply Sirona. Purevac HVE System positioning guide (748389 Rev. 1), CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17), Dentalcare.com (Procter & Gamble) CE643: Four-Handed Dentistry (Basic Tenets; Zones of Activity; Instrument Transfer)