I'm a trained dental nurse (US dental assistant) in the UK and we mosty use both. The sucky tube (aspirator) for saliva control during some procedures such as fillings, or during procedures where the dental handpiece (drills) omits water to clear the field of vision as well as irrigates (such as a scale and polish). The spittoon is used in conjunction at the end of most procedues. Again to irrigate, to rinse blood, to remove material (dental mould materia), to remove a bad taste (fillings) or simply the patient needs to spit.

I am a trained dental nurse (US dental assistant) in the UK and we mostly use both. The aspirator (sucky tube) is used for saliva control (like when filling material needs to dry), to retract soft tissue, using a handpiece (drill) that sprays water to irrigate and clear the field of vision during procedures. Spittoons are used in conjunction during a procedure if the patient needs to spit at any time, to rinse and remove dental material (such as dental impressions), rinse for blood, or remove horrible tasting dental material.

The spittoons are extremely unhygienic and should be eliminated completely. The one time use aspirators are much better. I haven't seen an office in years that uses a spittoon where I am.

@53: They're not used for the same purpose. Surely you'd like to rinse your mouth after having a cleaning or some dental work completed...? Or maybe you'd like to rinse out impression remnants? How is it unhygienic? At no point does it ever come into contact with any part of your body, and it is disinfected (usually with CaviCide) at least once between each patient, and flushed with water multiple times... Source: pre-dental student, have a dentist as a parent, worked as a dental assistant and/or hygienist in five dental practices excluding my parents'. All had spittoons.