Hygiene Atlas

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Central vacuum (suction) pump

Also called: vacuum system, suction machine, central suction

The machine that powers the HVE and saliva ejectors in every room.

The central vacuum pump creates the suction for every HVE and saliva ejector in the office. It pulls fluids and debris through pipes to the utility room. Filters and traps along the way catch solids, including amalgam particles.

How to spot it

  • A pump with large plastic pipes and a control box, often next to the compressor and amalgam separator.

What it is used for

  • Flush suction lines with a cleaner at the times your office sets, using a product that is safe for amalgam separators.
  • Chairside traps and pump filters are changed on the manufacturer's schedule.

Safety and care

  • Traps and filters hold body fluids and amalgam: wear gloves, mask and eyewear, and send amalgam-containing traps to recycling.
  • Never use bleach, chlorine or other oxidizing or acidic cleaners in lines that drain through an amalgam separator.

Related

Sources: eCFR. 40 CFR 441.30 Pretreatment standards for existing sources (dental offices), ADA. Amalgam Separators and Waste Best Management Practices, CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)