This article is sponsored content brought to you by Durr Dental Oceania.
Last year, Dürr Dental celebrated a remarkable milestone: 60 years of dental suction systems. This ground-breaking invention revolutionised dentistry in the 1960s, leaving a lasting positive impact on practitioners and patients. What initially appeared as a revolutionary change has become an integral part of our daily lives, and we take it for granted.
Beyond the convenience of treating patients while they lie down, dental suction systems also elevated infection protection in dental surgeries to new heights with the introduction of intraoral spray mist suction. However, another Dürr Dental invention in 1965 truly made long-term use of dental suction systems feasible: suction system disinfection with Orotol.
The invention of Orotol in 1965 opened the door to the long-term utilisation of dental suction systems. Organic substances like blood, saliva, and dentine inevitably enter the system during suctioning, creating breeding grounds for bacteria and fungi. To ensure the long-term effectiveness of these systems, a specialised product for cleaning and disinfection was essential. Despite numerous challenges, the inventors, including company founder Walter Dürr and his friend Ludwig Pflug, dedicated themselves to developing a product to meet this critical need. Initially, the development and production of Orotol took place in a humble bathroom at home. Driven by their passion for dental technology, they created the perfect solution for suction systems: Orotol.
The key to finding a successful solution was to meticulously tailor the cleaning and disinfection agent to the unique challenges a suction system poses. It required effective performance in cold water and the absence of foaming. Hot water would be detrimental to a suction system, as the proteins in saliva and blood begin to coagulate at 40°C, potentially leading to blockages. Moreover, even a highly effective disinfectant could cause more harm than good if it foams. Foaming obstructs the suction process and, in the worst-case scenario, can cause system failure.
This novel product was the first disinfectant designed explicitly for suction systems. Even today, Orotol plus remains the most widely used product in this field. However, the invention of Orotol was not only a significant milestone and a catalyst for the long-term use of dental suction systems but also marked the launch of the Hygiene business sector at Dürr Dental. For 60 years, the company has been dedicated to finding solutions for infection prevention and dental practice hygiene. Today, Dürr Dental System Hygiene is sold in over 100 countries worldwide.
In today’s market, the dream team of suction systems and Orotol plus is now complemented by another key player: the specialised detergent MD 555 cleaner. MD 555 effectively removes specific deposits from prophylactic products, which are increasingly being used in dental practices. With the comprehensive system solutions from Dürr Dental, you have been optimally protected for 60 years against infectious germs and deposits within the system, as well as against the failure of the suction system.
Visit Durr Dental Oceania
