Dental handpieces are an important part of any dentist's arsenal and are used every day for a variety of procedures.
Our guide to dental handpieces is designed to detail the different types of handpieces, their main uses and key features to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
Article directory：
1. What is a dental handpiece?
2. What are the different types of dental handpieces?
2.2 What is the purpose of high-speed dental handpieces?
2.4 What are the uses of dental low-speed handpieces?
3. What else should I pay attention to when using dental handpieces?
4. Choose the best dental handpiece system for your practice
5. Summarize
A dental handpiece is a tool widely used in dental procedures and treatments. It usually consists of a handheld part and a rotating working part. The main function of a dental handpiece is to drive different types of dental drills or cutters to perform tooth repair, polishing, or other treatment processes.
These dental handpieces usually come in two types: high speed and low speed. High-speed handpieces are used for faster work, such as cutting and trimming teeth, while low-speed handpieces are more suitable for more delicate and precise work, such as polishing and cleaning tooth surfaces.
Dental handpieces are often used in conjunction with dental chairs and other dental equipment to complete various dental treatments. Dental handpieces play a key role in the daily work of dentists and dental assistants, improving the efficiency and precision of treatment.
High-speed handpieces are one-piece units, meaning they are a complete system with a built-in motor. If they are compatible, they can be connected directly to the appropriate dental unit hose/tubing.
These handsets have a slightly curved appearance and a head that fits a variety of dental burs. For more information about burs, see our Ultimate Guide to Dental Burs.
What exactly is a dental high-speed handpiece? How does it work? Simply put, air pressure from the handpiece's built-in air turbine drives the rotating motion of the bur for cutting or polishing. This is activated by the dentist pressing the dental foot pedal.
Lubricated ball bearings inside the head of the handpiece hold the friction-grip burr securely in the center, allowing the burr's handle to rotate smoothly along the central axis with minimal friction.
High-speed handpieces can reach speeds of up to 450,000 repetitions per minute (rpm).
The two small holes on the top of the nose are where air and water come out. The water cooling feature is used to prevent the teeth from overheating.
●Eliminate rot
●Remove old fillings
●Preparing contours and retention channels for new restorations
●Finish or polish new restorations
●Crown or Bridge Preparation
●Shop for High Speed Turbine
Unlike a single high-speed handpiece, a low-speed handpiece is made up of multiple components.
The low-speed handpiece tube on the dental chair needs to be connected to a motor, which itself requires a straight handpiece, contra-angle handpiece or scaling attachment.
The motor driving the low-speed handpiece can be pneumatic or electric.
There is internal gearing within the machine head that allows the friction grip burrs to rotate at a constant speed regardless of torque.
Since low-speed handpieces operate at a lower RPM and remove tooth structure much more slowly, they do not require the addition of water spray, but some attachments do have this feature.
The average speed of a slow handpiece ranges from 10,000 to 40,000 rpm. The speed of rotation is determined by the motor operating it. Electric motors typically rotate the bur at approximately twice the speed of air motors.
Contra-angle handpieces have a curved design and are typically used intraorally (inside the mouth). Straight handpieces are used more for extraoral (outside the mouth) procedures.
(1)Contra-angle handpieces
remove rot
Finishing or finish machining of cavity preparation
Finishing and polishing of restorations
Adjust crowns, bridges and dentures
(2)Straight handpieces
Trimming and contouring of temporary crowns
Trimming and relining of removable dentures
Trimming and Contouring of Orthodontic Appliances
(3)Prevention perspective
Used to hold cleaning cups or brushes in place during polishing
Scaling corners can be stainless steel or disposable plastic
When connected to an electric motor, both contra-angle machines and right-angle machines can be used as electric handpieces.
Electric handpieces are generally heavier and more expensive than pneumatic handpieces.
However, they have several advantages and are generally considered superior in most departments, including power, control, and torque.
Torque is the overall efficiency and cutting power of the handpiece. Although air turbines can reach speeds up to twice the speed of electric handpieces, they lose about 40% of their overall speed when cutting begins.
Electric handpiecess, on the other hand, can maintain a constant speed during operation and do not lose power.
Torque settings can also be adjusted using an electric handpiece to suit a variety of procedures, including endodontic treatment.
By not relying on air, a speed-increasing handpiece with an electric motor also produces less aerosols than an air turbine, which is beneficial for infection control. Learn how here.
Endodontic handpiece
The Endo handpiece is designed for cleaning and shaping of root canals prior to filling. They are designed for high-precision control, minimizing the possibility of file corruption.
Most modern endoscopic handpieces are compatible with all popular NiTi file systems and are available in a range of different electric or pneumatic motor speeds.
Surgical or Implantation Handpiece
Surgical handpieces are designed for oral and maxillofacial surgery and implant surgery. They are made of high-quality stainless steel and are particularly strong.
These handsets are available as curved or straight handsets, with or without fiber optics.
Currently, what are the two most common types of dental handpieces? Certainly the most versatile high-speed and low-speed handpieces.
1.Concentricity
This is the ability of a dental bur to rotate tightly around its axis. The better the concentricity, the less likely the needle will wobble.
Electric handpieces are considered to have greater concentricity than pneumatic handpieces because the turbine is more susceptible to wear that affects concentricity.
2.Lighting
High speed turbines can be fiber optic or non-fiber optic.
Built-in fiber optic illumination emanates from the handpiece head and can be used to illuminate the cutting surface and aid intraoperative vision.
3.Noise
Cell handpieces are known to be noisy devices, and frequent use can cause hearing difficulties for dentists.
To prevent this from happening, a handpiece should ideally produce the lowest possible decibel (dB) level without affecting performance.
Air turbines generally produce more noise than electric handpieces.
Patients may find quieter handpieces easier to tolerate, but some dentists use the sound produced by the handpiece as a guide, so it's important to weigh these factors
4.Head size
The size of the handpiece head has a great impact on the dentist's field of view. The mini head size (9.8 x 8.5 mm) is preferred for posterior procedures requiring greater visibility and access.
Large cutting head (14.5 x 13mm) generates more torque and cutting forces for faster machining.
The standard-sized head dimensions (11.9 x 10.2 mm) are considered a middle ground, offering some of the advantages of both without any significant weaknesses.
5. Grip
Types of handpieces chucks
One of the most basic decisions a dentist must make when selecting a handpiece is which type of clamping mechanism to use (i.e., how do I retain and replace burs?)
Automatic chucks are by far the more popular choice because they do not require the use of any other tools to open or close the chuck. The automatic chuck is located on the back of the handpiece head and can release the bur or lock it in place using a button or lever system.
Manual chucks are considered somewhat outdated and require the use of a small wrench to secure and loosen the bur.
6.Bearings
Your handpiece may have ceramic or stainless steel bearings in its turbine. Ceramic bearings are considered more durable than steel.
Regardless of the material used, it is important to keep the bearings in optimal condition by frequently cleaning and lubricating them according to the dental handpiece manufacturer's instructions.
7. Ergonomics
In recent years, dental handpieces have come a long way in terms of how they feel in the dentist's hand.
The lighter the handpiece, the more comfortable it is to use. Modern handpiece designs are lightweight and perfectly balanced - perfect for long periods of use without stress.
The many different types of handpieces used in dentistry can be overwhelming at first. With new innovations emerging at a rapid pace, it can sometimes be difficult to know how to choose the best handpieces for your practice. Your practice area, whether general or specialty dentistry, and the procedures you perform will be the first deciding factors in the type of dental handpiece system you choose.
After that, you need to determine your budget and, within that budget, decide which attributes or features are most important to you:
●Is the safety and comfort of you and your employees a top priority?
●Do materials and design affect long-term durability?
●Or is it more important to purchase from an established dental supply company with a reputation for excellent customer service?
If your needs are more geared toward high-speed handpieces, low-speed handpieces, or electric handpieces for the most common procedures, OVO is a top company to consider. With many years of experience supplying the dental industry, we are a trusted partner providing your practice with great value handpieces. We'll be happy to answer any questions you have - just fill out our contact form or call us today.
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