A dental instrument is provided for use in facilitated placement and fixation of dental veneers of fragile porcelain-based material or the like designed for bonding onto patient teeth. The instrument includes a lightweight handpiece adapted for coupling to a vacuum source, in combination with a disposable transparent tip designed to engage and conform with surface contours of a dental veneer for vacuum-holding of the veneer during manipulation preparatory to fixation. A valve port on the handpiece can be opened or closed with a fingertip or with a movable valve member to facilitate controlled pick-up and release of the dental veneer. The transparent tip enhances dentist vision during veneer placement and further permits passage of radiation for improved curing of a light curable bonding agent conventionally used for veneer fixation. A multipurpose vacuum source adapter and alternative instrument geometries are also disclosed.

A cylindrical sleeve, having one closed end, to be releasably positioned about the tip portion of a surgical aspirator to aid in preventing clogging. The sleeve is formed of resiliently deformable material that defines plural spaced orifices and ribs on both interior and exterior surfaces to allow entry of fluid and small debris to the aspirator therein but aid in preventing the entry of tissue or larger debris that causes clogging or plugging. The ribs and additional fenstrae maintain aspirator action and prevent its discontinuance by non-dissected tissue's blocking of sleeve orifices.

A combination jaw rest and ejector having a generally hollow wedge-shaped body with upper and lower channels in which a patient's teeth rest and which holds open the patient's mouth. The wedge-shaped body is placed in the patient's mouth on the side opposite that on which work is being performed. A suction hose is attached to the body and the side of the body facing the work site is perforated so that a relatively high volume of air may be drawn into the body through the suction hose, thus drawing, with the air, blood, spray, and debris and substantially preventing the discharge of these materials, which may carry disease transmitting factors, from the patient's mouth. In one embodiment, the body includes perforated salive collecting tube and/or a tongue depressor attached thereto. In a further embodiment, the body includes an illumination source therein to illuminate the interior of the patient's mouth. In another embodiment, a combination jaw rest and ejector includes an illumination source and is provided in a system which includes a combination air flow/light switch. In another embodiment, there is provided an illuminated jaw rest without means for evacuating material from the patient' s mouth.

The present invention is an oral fluid collection article for placement in the buccal cavity of an individual for the collection and fittering of a saliva fluid. The collection article has a semi-permable membrane container enclosing an osmotic substance means.