by Dr Saade Saade, Balmain Dental Clinic, Balmain, NSW
This product provides constant retraction, suction, isolation and light inside the mouth. It really makes my life easier and I use it with about 80 per cent of my patients. The traditional method using a rubber dam, cotton rolls and nurse-operated suction will never be as effective as this device.
What’s good about it
The iLight Suction is very easy to use and can be set up in 10 seconds. By retracting the tongue and cheek while providing constant suction, it allows me to work in the best possible condition. A great advantage is that it removes the responsibility from the dental assistant to keep suctioning which, in turn, allows them to concentrate on passing instruments. It saves a lot of time and makes the workflow easier and more efficient.
There are two connection options. It can be attached to a normal suction tube or it can be hard connected into the dental chair, provided there is a spare suction port.
The mouthpiece is single-use and discarded after each patient. They come in small, medium and large sizes and are made of soft plastic. If the fit isn’t perfect, the mouthpiece can be easily trimmed down with scissors.
What’s not so good
I would estimate that about five per cent of patients can’t tolerate the rubber mouthpiece. Some people have a bit of a gag reflex, and some don’t like their tongue being held back. I’ve had patients who imagine it’s going to be quite intrusive but once they give it a try, then they’re fine.
On the other hand, I have patients who love it. They like the fact that they don’t have to think about where to put their tongue because it’s all done for them.
It needs to be disclosed that the Balmain dentist that reviewed the iLight Suction product is connected to the company that supplies the equipment.
Consider insisting on a free trial of some weeks before decision regarding purchase.
This device is akin to the doctors who first made pregnant women lay on their backs during labor and delivery – absolutely terrible for the patient but done because it’s easier on the doctors. My son’s pediatric dentist made him have this in his mouth for almost an hour while he attached two crowns on his front teeth, and it was horrible for my son, who has a gag reflex (though a very slim population would be ok with this being in there mouth for that long). Dentists: if you care about your patients, stick with the rubber dental dams. It’s extra work for you, but that’s why you get paid what you do.