Properly functioning High Speed Handpiece are crucial to maintaining a pleasant, efficient dental practice. Unfortunately, insufficient maintenance is a leading cause of the premature failure of these devices. Keep this list in mind each time you clean and lubricate your handpieces to ensure that they operate at top performance and last longer.

1. Remember to always follow the KaVo’s instructions regarding handpiece maintenance found in the manual. Paying attention to the manufacturer’s instructions could avoid serious damage to the handpiece, regardless of whether you are working with a high- or low-speed device.

2. Put down the pliers. Remember to use KaVo-approved tools on your handpiece, or send them in to the KaVo Repair Center for the highest quality repairs. Even if pliers seem like the obvious solution to a small problem, this could cause damage to the handpiece, or even void your warranty.

3. Don’t ignore the bur. Remember to remove the bur during handpiece maintenance, as this allows proper purging of lubricant and debris.

4. Keep wipe-downs simple. Remember to wipe your handpiece down with warm water, or warm water with a mild detergent, prior to lubrication and sterilization. Using strong chemicals to do this is unnecessary, and can lead to reduced handpiece life due to chemical interactions during sterilization. Do not submerge the handpiece in any liquid.

5. Double-check your connections. Make sure you are using the correct spray adapter for your handpiece connection types (MULTIflex, E-style, etc.).  If you have a fixed back handpiece, make sure your spray goes in the drive-air port (the smaller of the two) to apply your lubricant, rather than any other opening in the handpiece. This opening is the only direct path to the turbine.

Remember, if you have any questions on Dental Handpiece maintenance, contact your KaVo Sales rep or call technical service at 1-888-ASK-KAVO, and follow option 2.