How many people have taken ill as a result of backflow from the vacuum system?
There is no way to track illnesses that have resulted from backflow. Since people have so many interactions before and after visiting the dentist, it is impossible to trace the illness back to the activity at the dentist office, let alone the vacuum system. There have been several research studies on the issue of backflow and those studies have proven the risk of backflow exists. You can find links to the studies on our website. One study found over 20 percent of the subjects experienced backflow during the study. There is a paper published in Scotland that identified the vacuum system in the dental office as a possible source for Hepatitis C, which is a lethal disease. It would be helpful if we could trace illnesses back to their source. Unfortunately, most illnesses are not traceable.
