A control valve for a dental vacuum system includes a housing having a first end, a second end and a sidewall therebetween, which define a cavity of the housing. An imaginary central longitudinal axis extends from the first end to the second end and generally parallel to the sidewall. A first opening in the sidewall of the housing is operatively connected to a vacuum control volume and a pair of opposing second openings in the sidewall are spaced-apart from the first opening along the imaginary central longitudinal axis. A biasing member and a plunger valve are located within the cavity of the housing. The plunger valve is movable along the imaginary central longitudinal axis between a first position that blocks at least a portion of a flow of air through the housing and a second position that substantially permits the flow of air through the housing and to a vacuum pump.
