# Dentist question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 26, 2024, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271 "2024-08-26T21:18:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/21 "2024-08-27T01:45:23Z")
That was my experience until ten years ago. 😢 ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/22 "2024-08-27T01:46:38Z")
I go every six months, in fact I was just there on Thursday. It was the same as it’s always been. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/23 "2024-08-27T01:48:27Z")
I think that as dentist offices get remodeled, they lose the spit sinks. If your dentist is in an older office, they’ll still have them. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/24 "2024-08-27T01:48:51Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Huh? I have _never_ once been to a dentist that didn’t have the bowl to spit into. Sure they have the suction thing during the cleaning but afterwards they always have a small cup to rinse with and spit out into the sink. Various places in NYC. Every single one has the bowl. > > Very confused here. I’ve been going to dental school dentistry (sometimes faculty, sometimes students) for decades. They switched to suction before most private practice dentists. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/25 "2024-08-27T01:51:21Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Various places in NYC. I’m in Chicago, just went to the dentist two weeks ago. Not a spit bowl in sight. And, I remember wondering about it while I was there but it was never needed. My dentist is super-modern in that they seem to have all the latest gadgets and gizmos. They even 3d printed a new tooth (crown) for me while I was sat in the chair. Pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/26 "2024-08-27T09:15:21Z")
I use a dentist in the UK. It’s probably about 10 years old and has a very small swish & spit sink. All the work and cleaning takes place reclined with the assistant manning the sucker tube. When they are all finished I’m sat up for a swish & spit before leaving. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/27 "2024-08-27T11:17:01Z")
Same here. (This thread reminded me that i’d got a text from my dentist asking me to arrange a checkup. Just done it ! (next Wednesday at 10:50, if you must know.)) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/28 "2024-08-27T12:15:03Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I used a spit bowl until recently, and i still hate the spray& suction. It doesn’t work nearly as well for actually, you know, rinsing crap out of my mouth. Agreed. It’s not even close to working as well. Thankfully my dentist’s fully modern office still has a sink. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/29 "2024-08-27T16:18:14Z")
My dentist retired about three years ago. When the new dentist came in they updated all the stations, got new x-ray equipment, etc. The spit sinks disappeared, but they kept the lavatory sinks in each station so we can all do a real rinse when they’ve let us out of the chair. ---
**Author:** ![sb1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@sb1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sb1953)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/30 "2024-08-27T16:32:53Z")
My dentist (since 1986) used to give you the mouthwash and then after you swish they insert a suction tube into your mouth into which you spit the juice, As the prophylaxis goes forward, the hygenist will periodically place the tube into my mouth and allow me to spit. I always have a little of the grit they use to polish the teeth at the end floating around and so as soon as I get home I swish-and spit several times in my own sink ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/31 "2024-08-27T16:42:31Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > To rinse and spit one has to be sitting up but most dentists have the patient reclined now. I was at the dentist for a cleaning last week and found the fully reclined position to be painful, due to some recent breathing issues. Would they allow a more upright position due to medical needs? I’m sure it’s a bit more awkward for them. For a cleaning it was bearable, but anything longer would be hard on me. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/32 "2024-08-27T16:47:40Z")
> [@sb1953](#): > > I always have a little of the grit they use to polish the teeth at the end floating around and so as soon as I get home I swish-and spit several times in my own sink Exactly. That’s why i preferred spit sinks. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/33 "2024-08-27T16:48:44Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Would they allow a more upright position due to medical needs? I suggest discussing this with your dentist. I suspect every dentist will have a slightly different answer, based on their skills, their equipment, and their general comfort with making exceptions. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/34 "2024-08-28T00:04:06Z")
Pt reclined makes it easier to have an assistant for a lot of things. I let patients sit up if they need too, back and neck problems truly wheelchair bound etc. Those times I may have to stand but I would much rather sit. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/35 "2024-08-28T02:43:57Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > I was at the dentist for a cleaning last week and found the fully reclined position to be painful, due to some recent breathing issues. Would they allow a more upright position due to medical needs? I injured my neck and back recently and last week at the dentist told them I couldn’t lie flat. They gave me cushions to raise my head and left me partly upright. I got the impression this was a common request. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/36 "2024-08-28T03:33:15Z")
The reason I asked about being fully reclined was _is that the only way treatments can be done, or perhaps the only method taught, or was it merely for the convenience of the dentist and assistants._ It sounds like the staff should be able to work on a semi-reclined patient; I’ll ask at my next visit. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/37 "2024-08-28T03:51:07Z")
They still do the rinse and spit here in Asia. I was just at the dentist this morning. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/38 "2024-08-28T13:13:37Z")
I’ve never been to a dentist that had a spit bowl; even the outdated, incompetent one I went to as a kid used the little suction devices. The office I go to now is fairly new, and has handwashing sinks in each room; spitting in those is permitted, but you have to get out of the chair. During peak COVID, they did require you to rinse with some kind of mouthwash prior to an appointment; at that point, they converted the faucets so that water flow could be activated without touching the knob - you pressed your knee against a cabinet door below the sink. Neat. ---
**Author:** ![YellowDog51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a5b964/32.png) [@YellowDog51](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YellowDog51)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/39 "2024-08-28T23:19:15Z")
My dentist switched from spit bowls to suction probably 15 - 20 years ago. I didn’t like it at first, but I’ve come around. And my hygienist is perfectly happy to give me a couple of extra rinses at the end. But what really satisfies me is this: I take my own water in the car in a Tervis Tumbler with a lid. When I get back to the car I take a mouthful or two of water, swish, and spit discreetly into the convenient bushes. Takes care of any remaining grit! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271/40 "2024-08-31T12:04:18Z")
Suction during the procedure, rinse and spit to your heart’s content right after. I’ve gone to lots of dentists for lots of years in lots of different places and that was always the way. I’ve been going to the same one at the same location for the last 10 years (probably my longest single stint) and they still do as above. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentist-question/1006271.md?page=3)