Abstract: A suction adapter is provided for use with an absorbent roll holder, and particularly for providing suction to hollow absorbent rolls supported by the roll holder within the mouth of a patient. In one embodiment, the suction adapter includes a body having an outwardly opening slot formed therein for removable engagement with the frame of the roll holder, which in one specific embodiment is a Garmers type device. The body further includes a pair of passages formed therethrough, one end of the passages opening in suction orifices at one face of the body and the other end of the passages opening in tube attachment bores at another face of the body. The suction orifices are arranged for fluid communication with a vacuum source by application of the suction hose to the one face of the body surrounding the suction orifices. The tube attachment bores are sized to receive one end of suction tubes, which tubes are adapted to engage the central lumen of the hollow absorbent rolls supported by the Garmers device.

Abstract: A dental instrument for removing saliva from a patient's mouth is disclosed that includes a pair of tubes configured to be operatively positioned within the patient's mouth to support a pair of absorbent rolls at the sides of alveolar ridge. One of the tubes terminates at its proximal end in a suction adaptor having a sealing face for contact interface with a suction tube connected to a dental suction device. The proximal end of the other of the tubes intersects the first tube at its mid-length. An absorbent roll supporting perforated stem is removably inserted into the distal end of each of the tubes. Each stem includes a number of apertures in fluid communication with the passageways through the pair of tubes so that suction applied at the suction adapter operates through the apertures to remove fluid absorbed by the absorbent rolls. An adjustable clamping structure is connected to one of the tubes and is mountable under the jaw of the patient to support the instrument.