Tag Archives: air-driven

dental equipment

The Complete Guide to Dental Handpieces

Introduction: What is a dental handpiece?
A dental handpiece is a device used by dentists which is attached to a dental drill and is used to drill into teeth. The handpiece can be used with the drill is to remove decayed teeth or to fill the space left after removal of decayed teeth. The type of handpiece used by dentists will depend on the type of drill being used. Handpieces are available in different shapes and sizes, depending on what type of work is required.

What are the Different Types of Handpieces?
There are several different types of surgical handpieces, including:

  • Dental turbine handpiece
  • Electric handpieces
  • Electrosurgical units
    Air-driven or turbine handpieces are powered by compressed air. They require an air compressor to provide the compressed air and a pressure regulator to control the pressure. These units are often used in the dental field to shape and polish teeth, but they can also be used in a surgical setting to remove excess tissue. and tissue for grafts.
    Electric handpieces use electricity to power an electric motor; this eliminates the need for compressed air. This type of unit is often used in a surgical setting and can be used with a variety of materials, including – plastic, metal, or glass.
    Electrosurgical units dental typically use electrical current to power an electric motor; these units are often used for performing minor electrosurgery through the use of a disposable electrode.

What are the Benefits of Having a Dental Handpiece in Your Clinic?
Dental handpieces are an investment for any dental clinic. They are a necessary part of the practice, and can make a huge difference in how many patients a practice can see each day. There are many benefits to having one in the clinic, but it can be difficult to list them all in order of importance.
The most important benefit is that they allow the dentist to spend less time on each patient. With a dental handpiece, the dentist can simply switch out the tool being used on a patient and then move onto the next person. This means that the dentist is able to see more patients in a day and provide them with better service.

Uncategorized

Characters of Air-driven and Electrical Dental Handpieces

Dental handpiece is one of the most fundamental devices used in dentistry, it can enhance the efficiency of dental tasks. Handpieces have gradually been redesigned and upgraded to become the highly accurate through the years. Technological advances continue to improve these indispensable dental equipment.

The use of air-driven “high-speed” handpieces enabled clinicians to work more expeditiously with reduced trauma to the tooth and the patient. This development presented a major improvement from the “belt-driven” handpieces that preceded them and represents one of the most significant leaps forward in the era of modern dentistry.

According to the manufacturer, some of the benefits of these technologies in an air-driven handpiece are: automatic optimization of power, that is, constant speed under load to avoid stalling; delivery of smooth, constant power and control for maximum cutting efficiency and faster removal of material; speed adjustment of the bur when it is not under load to minimize wear on the bearings.

Electrical handpieces operate at both high and low speeds. This makes them versatile for all kinds of procedures. Instead of bearings, this handpiece has gears instead of bearings. These handpieces are quieter due to the fact that air is not flowing through them for power.

Control panels for electric handpieces are becoming more automated, allowing the operator to use preset buttons to specifically dial in an RPM for a specific procedure. For example, most polishing procedures should be performed at lower RPM to minimize the generation of heat.

In many clinical situations, an electric handpiece can perform the same functions that both an air-driven high-speed and separate low-speed unit can. Since most clinicians still prefer individual handpieces for high and low speeds so they can be more efficient chairside, this may not make a difference when choosing between the two systems.

Dental handpiece is an essential element in any dentist’s armamentarium. It is a fundamental device that can enhance—or hinder, depending on its efficiency and maintenance—the daily routine of a practice. Selecting the right handpiece is critical to helping ensure the smooth operation of everyday activities.

dental health

The Features of Electric handpieces and Air-driven Handpieces

Electric handpieces are available that give dentists added benefits when compared to their traditional air-driven counterparts. One significant difference is having a specific RPM, with constant torque and less “bur chatter” (more concentric), so that when polishing or cutting through various types of tooth structure or restorative materials, the bur does not “bog down” or slow down when performing the clinical task. In many clinical situations, an electric dental handpiece can perform the same functions that both an air-driven high-speed and separate low-speed unit can.

Since most clinicians still prefer individual handpieces for high and low speeds so they can be more efficient chairside, this may not make a difference when choosing between the two systems; however, the higher initial investment for electric handpieces may be a consideration for some clinicians. Also, given the ability to “dial in” the desired RPM and use different contra-angles that have different gearing ratios, the electric handpiece can be custom-tailored to perform many other types of clinical procedures such as rotary endodontics, implant placement, and third molar removal (via tooth sectioning), for example. This clinical versatility is very desirable in today’s dental practices where multidisciplinary treatments are becoming increasingly common.

Control panels for electric handpieces are also becoming more automated, allowing the operator to use preset buttons to specifically dial in an RPM for a specific procedure. For example, most polishing procedures should be performed at lower RPM to minimize the generation of heat. Polishing of composite materials can be accomplished efficiently at speeds of 6,000 RPM to 8,000 RPM. Ceramic polishing is generally done in the range of 12,000 RPM to 15,000 RPM. Presets can be made at reduced RPM for caries removal, fine margin refinement on restorative preparations, endodontic cleansing and shaping, and implant drills and placement, to name a few applications. Some models also allow for torque control and have an automatic reversing feature for endodontics( Endodontic Motor ).

These features eliminate any unpredictability and guesswork compared to using a traditional low-speed unit with only an air-pedal foot control. Having the ability to reverse the rotation of the instrument in an electric handpiece is also a helpful feature when polishing restorations because of the importance of having the polishing instrument rotating from the restorative material toward the tooth to avoid damaging or “ditching” the margin.

A recently introduced feature in an air-driven handpiece combines some of the benefits of traditional air-driven and electric handpieces into one instrument. Two new technologies incorporated into this handpiece are speed sensing intelligence (SSI) and superior turbine suspension (STS). These features allow this handpiece to deliver the benefits of constant torque at high speeds when performing various dental procedures, specifically cutting enamel and dentin and removing or sectioning through different types of restorative materials, including metal and zirconium.

According to the manufacturer, some of the benefits of these technologies in an air-driven handpiece are: automatic optimization of power, that is, constant speed under load to avoid stalling; delivery of smooth, constant power and control for maximum cutting efficiency and faster removal of material; speed adjustment of the bur when it is not under load to minimize wear on the bearings; and allowing the handpiece to operate at 330,000 RPM under load without bur chatter or deflection.

dental equipment

The Development of Air-driven Dental Handpiece

A recently introduced feature in an air-driven handpiece combines some of the benefits of traditional air-driven and electric handpieces into one instrument. Two new technologies incorporated into this dental handpiece are speed sensing intelligence (SSI) and superior turbine suspension (STS). These features allow this handpiece to deliver the benefits of constant torque at high speeds when performing various dental procedures, specifically cutting enamel and dentin and removing or sectioning through different types of restorative materials, including metal and zirconium.

According to the manufacturer, some of the benefits of these technologies in an air-driven handpiece are: automatic optimization of power, that is, constant speed under load to avoid stalling; delivery of smooth, constant power and control for maximum cutting efficiency and faster removal of material; speed adjustment of the bur when it is not under load to minimize wear on the bearings; and allowing the handpiece to operate at 330,000 RPM under load without bur chatter or deflection.

Because an air-driven handpiece with automatic torque control can literally “sense” the degree of “resistance” when cutting through various materials, constant speed and torque are delivered to the cutting instrument, making it unique among traditional high-speed air-driven dental handpieces. In the author’s experience, when cutting through enamel, the hardest substance in the body, this type of device gives the operator a fast, efficient cut that leaves the preparation margins ultra smooth. Cutting depth cuts for minimal-preparation veneers entirely in enamel can be performed with precision.

As the rotary instrument engages the softer dentin in a preparation, the handpiece “senses” it and reduces the workload on the handpiece while maintaining constant torque. Cutting through restorative materials, from metal amalgam to zirconium substructures, puts a high degree of strain on the turbines of traditional air-driven handpieces and wear on their turbines. Having the ability to automatically adjust speed and torque based on the resistance of the substrate improves efficiency, with less wear and tear on the handpiece itself.

Control during tooth preparation and automatic adjustments in torque to cut enamel and dentin with equal amount of ease and efficiency is, of course, greatly beneficial. However, in a clinical world where dentistry is moving away from metal-based restorative materials towards high-strength porcelain and zirconia restorations, clinicians will need a handpiece that can efficiently remove these materials when they need replacement. Many traditional high-speed handpieces will be strained beyond their limits performing these procedures on a daily basis, which will lead to costly repairs and early replacement.

dental equipment

The Impact of Air-Driven and Electric Handpieces

The handpiece is an essential element in any dentist’s armamentarium. It is a fundamental device that can enhance—or hinder, depending on its efficiency and maintenance—the daily routine of a practice. Selecting the right handpiece is critical to helping ensure the smooth operation of everyday activities.

Innovations come and go in dentistry, with some being more impactful than others. The introduction of the air-driven handpiece nearly 60 years ago has proven to be a revolutionary advancement that genuinely changed the way dentists prepare teeth to receive dental restorative materials. The use of air-driven “high-speed” handpieces enabled clinicians to work more expeditiously with reduced trauma to the tooth and the patient. This development presented a major improvement from the “belt-driven” handpieces that preceded them and represents one of the most significant leaps forward in the era of modern dentistry.

Since it was introduced in 1957 by Dr. John Borden and DENTSPLY, several notable improvements have been made to the high-speed handpiece to make the design more ergonomic, the heads smaller for easier patient access, the turbines quieter, and bur-changing easier. Low-speed handpieces are now reserved primarily for finishing and polishing procedures, prophylaxis, and laboratory applications. Most dental delivery units contain both a low and high speed handpiece to provide the dentist with an instrument whose speed is specific to the operation that is being performed.

Electric handpieces (with variable revolutions per minute [RPM]) are also available that give dentists added benefits when compared to their traditional air-driven counterparts. One significant difference is having a specific RPM, with constant torque and less “bur chatter” (more concentric), so that when polishing or cutting through various types of tooth structure or restorative materials, the bur does not “bog down” or slow down when performing the clinical task.

In many clinical situations, an electric handpiece can perform the same functions that both an air-driven high-speed and separate low-speed unit can. Since most clinicians still prefer individual handpieces for high and low speeds so they can be more efficient chairside, this may not make a difference when choosing between the two systems; however, the higher initial investment for electric handpieces may be a consideration for some clinicians. Also, given the ability to “dial in” the desired RPM and use different contra-angles that have different gearing ratios, the electric handpiece can be custom-tailored to perform many other types of clinical procedures such as rotary endodontics, implant placement, and third molar removal (via tooth sectioning), for example. This clinical versatility is very desirable in today’s dental practices where multidisciplinary treatments are becoming increasingly common.