SmileSystems School of Dental Assisting Blog

Your ability to utilize the air-water syringe while assisting during any dental procedure is extremely important. Improve your assisting skills with these solid tips.

First, get into the habit of using the working end of the syringe as your most important retraction instrument. Use the barrel of the syringe to gently pull the side of the patient’s cheek back as you carefully insert the HVE tip into the mouth. You can readjust the position of the syringe tip and aid in the soft-tissue retraction during an entire procedure. By far, the most important aspect of properly using the air water syringe during dental assisting is learning how to spray water and air at the same time to clear the tooth of debris and saliva so your doctor can clearly see the tooth. During a break, take your air water syringe and point it into the nearest wastebasket or sink and practice pressing the buttons at the same time to achieve an equal mix of air and water. When the plume coming from the tip looks like the aerosol from a spray can then you are creating the right mixture. If you seem to get more of a water stream than an aerosol you need to adjust the pressure towards the other button to get an equivalent mix. This is not like flipping a switch, it requires practice, sensitivity and a honed sense of touch. Every air water syringe will demonstrate its own unique sensitivity requirement for the buttons to work correctly.

REMEMBER: Learn how to spray water and air in a powerful aerosol every time

Next, when a tooth is being prepared, the key to effectively cleaning the target area is to get the tip of the syringe approximately 1 1/2 inches away from the tooth and spray (air & water, aerosol) using a continuous circling motion with the working end of the syringe. The movement is almost like drawing the diameter of a dime with the tip of the syringe while you are spraying. By changing the location the spray is coming from, turbulent deflections and eddies of the high power spray will rapidly clean the surface of the tooth. At the same time the HVE tip must be placed as close to the prepared surface as possible to capture all the water and deflected spray. The technique that we teach at the SmileSystems School involves learning how to spray air/water for a second and a half, immediately followed by an air blast for a second and a half.

REMEMBER: Spray for 1.5 seconds, then only air for 1.5 seconds (2 cycles)

This is the most important part of clearing the preparation area of debris and then drying it for proper visualization by the dentist. Remember, spray for 1.5 seconds then air for 1.5 seconds. Also remember to move the tip in that little circular motion during both cycles.

REMEMBER: Move the tip in little circular motions during both cycles

This technique will almost always result in an extremely clean tooth surface that is now dry and easily seen. Practice your spray technique over and over in the waste can until you can press the buttons with your eyes closed and you get the same volume of air and water aerosol every time. Now you are on your way to mastering the air water syringe and improving the quality of the dentistry that you help to provide.