Patent ID: 8398398

Claim:
A suction apparatus connectable to a source of a vacuum for removing fluids and debris from an oral cavity during dental procedure; the apparatus comprising: a tubular vacuum member having an inclined distal end portion; a protective pad mounted on the tubular vacuum member in a folded configuration, the protective pad being fabricated from a porous, flexible material, the protective pad being formed of an initially flat member and being foldable to mount the protective pad on the tubular vacuum member with flat upper and lower sections of the initially flat member extending at an angle relative to each other; the protective pad having first and second openings, each extending through the protective pad with the inclined distal end portion extending though the first opening, and with the inclined distal end portion being partially inserted through the second opening; wherein the protective pad is wider than the tubular vacuum member so that the protective pad, when folded, extends completely around the tubular vacuum member.