Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing a dental appliance that functions as an aspirator and tongue deflector. The aspirator has a proximal end and a distal end configured to be positioned at near a treatment location in the mouth of the patient. A tongue deflector is disposed on the distal end of the aspirator for controlling movement of the patient's tongue at the location. An elongate aspiration tube emanates at the proximal end of the aspirator and terminates at the tongue deflector for aspirating liquids at or near the treatment location. The aspirator tube has an aspiration channel running concentrically along the aspiration tube from the proximal end to a collection recess in the tongue deflector. The dental appliance may be fabricated such that the tongue deflector and aspirator are formed as one contiguous unitary piece.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for use during dental procedures is disclosed. A tongue deflector (12) is coupled to an aspiration tube (24). The aspiration tube (24) is in turn coupled to a bite tube (38) which is held in place by a patient's teeth. A vacuum gap (30) provides suction sufficient to aspirate liquid and small particles of debris which collect during a dental procedure, while bite tube (38) maintains the patient's mouth in an open position and tongue deflector (12) retracts the patient's tongue away from the area in which the dental procedure is being performed. By sliding aspiration tube (24) in relation to tongue deflector (12), the level of suction can be controlled.