The Hidden Costs of Unreliable Suction

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Every dental practice depends on suction—it powers the evacuation tools that keep procedures safe, efficient and comfortable. When a vacuum fails completely, the entire facility grinds to a halt. Dentistry cannot happen without it.

But the truth is, you don’t need a full system failure to feel the pain. Unreliable suction that weakens under pressure creates daily drag—slowing procedures, frustrating providers and reducing patient comfort. For group practices, where consistency across operatories and locations is essential, that inconsistency is costly.

So, whether it’s a rare vacuum failure that stops a facility in its tracks or the far more common issue of unreliable suction, the consequences are clear: inefficient workflows, inconsistent experiences and increased strain on your team.

The Everyday Pain of Unreliable Suction

When a vacuum underperforms, the drag shows up everywhere:

• Clinicians spend extra time managing debris and fluids
• Patient comfort decreases as moisture control falters
• Infection control measures, such as aerosol capture, become less effective
• Schedules slip, throughput declines and team stress rises

In a single-site practice, unreliable suction hurts productivity. In a group practice, where consistent experiences across locations is a core part of the brand promise, it threatens the standardization group practices depend on.

“Patients expect the same standard of care at every location—and unreliable suction threatens that consistency.”

Why Some Vacuums Fall Short

Many vacuums rely on blower fan technology. While functional under light conditions with consistent pressure, these pumps falter in real-world dentistry where evacuating solids, blood and tissue, and supporting multiple simultaneous users, all increase pressure. As pressure rises, blower systems lose suction strength¹.

Strong suction relies on constant airflow.

Variable Airflow = Inconsistent Suction
Blower systems rely on spinning blades to create fast-moving airflow. By accelerating air outward, they create a low-pressure pocket that pulls air in from the operatory lines.

When pressure increases, it creates extra resistance in the lines. The system would need to push harder to generate airflow, but blowers can’t increase force, they can only spin. So, as pressure rises, airflow drops off and the low-pressure pocket collapses. The result is inconsistent suction in the operatory.

A Better Way: The Power of Positive Displacement

Positive displacement pumps operate differently. Inside the pump, rotary claws trap a fixed volume of air every cycle and sweep it forward into the discharge pipe. As each pocket of trapped air is displaced, a new pocket opens on the inlet side, creating a continuous low-pressure area that draws more air in from the operatory lines.

This cycle of trapping, moving and displacing pockets of air repeats at a constant rate—even when resistance increases. When pressure rises, the pump simply applies more force to keep that volume moving, delivering a steady, constant flow.

Consistent Airflow = Consistent Suction

That steady flow means you get:

• Consistent suction—even at peak demand
• Strong evacuation of solids, fluids and debris without loss of power
• Scalable performance that supports multiple users at once
• Greater reliability under the daily realities of dentistry

Infection Control: Consistency Matters

Reliable suction is also key to infection control. High-volume evacuation (HVE) can reduce aerosols and salivary contamination by 90% or more².

But HVE only works if suction at the source remains steady. With weak or inconsistent vacuums, those protections are compromised.

Midmark PowerVac^® and PowerVac G: Built for Group Practices

This is where Midmark delivers what some systems can’t. PowerVac and PowerVac G Dry Vacuums use rotary-claw positive displacement technology to deliver unwavering suction—even during peak demand.

Ideal for group practices, they bring:

• Quiet performance (as low as 48 dBA) for better patient and employee experience
• Oil-less, water-less operation for lower costs and easier maintenance
• On-demand energy management with PowerVac G to cut utility costs
• Long-term protection with a 5-year/10,000-hour full product warranty and a 10-year/20,000-hour pump warranty
• Modular expandability as your practice grows

“With Midmark positive displacement vacuums, you gain more than equipment—you gain predictability.”

With Midmark, providers can focus on care, not equipment. Operations leaders can standardize performance across locations. And patients can experience consistent, high-quality treatment—every visit, every site.

The Payoff

In group dentistry, inconsistent suction is the enemy. Positive displacement is the answer.

Midmark PowerVac and PowerVac G dry vacuums keep suction strong, operatories running and patients cared for—day after day. Protect your schedule, your productivity and your reputation with the reliability and consistency of Midmark vacuums.

Other Midmark articles: 

• Stop Chasing Paper Trails: Simplify Compliance with Smarter Sterilization
• Cut Sterilization Costs Without Compromising Safety
• How to Choose Dental Equipment That Drives Growth and Reduces Costs
• Inside Life Dental Group’s Rise to a $30 Million Dental Service Leader
• The Group Dentistry Now Show: The Voice of the DSO Industry – Episode 171

References:

1.Hagerdent – Dental suction system troubleshooting: https://www.hagerdent.com/article/ dental-suction-system-troubleshooting.html

DAE Pumps – Positive displacement vs centrifugal pumps: https://www.daepumps.com/ resources/positive-displacement-pump-vs-centrifugal-pump/

Air and Vac – Vacuum system suction issues: https://www.airandvac.com/my-vacuum-system-isnt-pulling-suction-like-it-should/

Engineering Toolbox – Positive displacement pumps: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/positive-displacement-pumps-d_414.html

2. Dental Education Hub – https://dentaleducationhub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/TCE-Suction-3.pdf