Saliva rolls: 7 aspects to consider

Used in dental practices to absorb and/or reduce the flow of saliva, saliva rolls are a fundamental resource in many dental procedures and operations (from basic scaling to sealing, as well as paediatric operations or surgical and aesthetic procedures).

If we look at the product itself—a white cotton roll—it would seem that there are no major differences between one product and another. But in the eyes of a manufacturer, and even more so in the hands of a professional or in the mouth of a patient, it is the details that make a big difference. Choosing a good product makes work easier for dentists and operators, improving the comfort and well-being of patients at the same time.

1. Absorbency

It sounds trivial, but given the purpose of the product, one of the key features is absorbency so that saliva and moisture in the mouth are properly contained during surgery. Because of this, it is important to ensure that the dental rolls have not undergone treatment that will limit their absorbency.

2. Ability to last

Cotton rolls do not just have to provide excellent absorbency; they have to last during treatment as well. Continuously replacing them during a procedure should not be necessary. Replacing rolls affects both timing and use of materials. Good saliva rolls allow operators to work in a faster and more precise way without interruption.

3. Bacteriologically safe

As a medical device used during surgical operations, it is absolutely essential for the protection of patients to use medical-grade products that have the right bioburden level (less than 700 CFU/g).

4. Comfort

The quality of a cotton roll can also be seen in everyday use. High-quality rolls do not irritate mucous membranes and leave no residue on materials that they come into contact with. At the same time, they safeguard operators as they work and guarantee the comfort and well-being of the patient

5. Different sizes

The quality of cotton rolls is also demonstrated by the ability to choose between different sizes, so that they are well-suited to patients, different types of operations and medical procedures.

6. Flexibility and Memory

Cotton rolls must be highly flexible to adapt to the area in which they are applied, and have excellent memory to maintain position and shape when inserted.

7. Environmentally sustainable

Another important aspect is to ensure that your cotton rolls have not been bleached with chlorine, for two reasons: on the one hand, we protect the environment (avoiding dioxins created during chlorine bleaching), and on the other, we ensure that there are no dioxins hazardous to patients.

Monoart cotton rolls are designed to satisfy all requirements. For this reason, they are made entirely from highly absorbent (5 to 7 times their own weight) pure cotton material.

The cotton material used to make Monoart rolls is bleached with hydrogen peroxide (oxygenated water); an environmentally sustainable substance that is safe for people. This makes them biocompatible (ISO 10993-1), i.e. their use has no negative effects on the body, either in the short term (acute) or long term (chronic). 

The special starch coating means that the rolls do not stick to mucous membranes, which creates problems, and ensures that no cotton residue is left on areas that they come into contact with.

If necessary or appropriate, Monoart cotton rolls can be sterilised in an autoclave at 121° for 18 minutes. Finally, please remember that although Monoart cotton rolls are 95% biodegradable thanks to the choice of raw materials, once used they must be treated as special waste and disposed of correctly.