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Dental Compressor

The Importance of Dental Air Compressor

Among all of the dental equipment that you will need in your dental office, there are a few select items that you simply cannot go without. Dental air compressors are essential for performing some of the most routine tasks in dentistry.

About 74% of adults believe that an unattractive smile can hurt their career success, and 100% of dentists should know that they cannot restore a smile without the right kind of equipment. One of the most basic and essential tools for dentists is a dental air compressor. When investing in dental air compressors, you need to evaluate the specific needs of your office. Oil-free compressors require very little maintenance and are less expensive than lubricated compressors, but you may be inclined to opt for lubricated versions for a variety of reasons.

Between silent, mini, and oil free models, the selection of dental air compressors is both widespread and vast. As modern technology advances and as the options of dental air compressors expand, selecting and purchasing a new model can seem somewhat overwhelming. Information on choosing the right compressor is somewhat scarce but there are a few important factors that dentists should always consider before investing in a new machine. Dental air compressors can be a costly addition to an operatory; thus making it vital for buyers to take an ample amount of time to research and select the proper model for one’s practice.

Dentists in search of a new dental air compressor can begin by searching for models with oil-free reliability. Oil and dentistry simply do not mix. Every operatory requires compressed air to function and operate. However, if the air a dentist uses to run their practice has poor quality, the effects can be extremely detrimental. Having unclean air can negatively impact not only the patient- but the staff, dentist, various procedures and operating costs as well. Compressors which require oil lubrication are consistently adding oil vapor to the stream of compressed air that is released.

Even if the compressor is top of the line, it is impossible for it to filter out all of the oil from the air. The vapor from the oil will eventually negatively impact dental instruments, components and tools as they become clogged and damaged over time. This can result in costly maintenance updates and repairs. Also, much like a vehicle, dental air compressors which use oil require routine oil changes as they steadily expel oil overtime. This can be time consuming to the dentist as oil levels must be checked on a regular basis. By selecting a model with an oil-free compressor, you can eliminate these problems and save both time and money over time.

dental equipment

Learning how to Choose the Right Air Compressor

Air compressors have been around for well over 100 years and have as many uses as there are tools that use air. One reason for their popularity is because air as a resource is safe, flexible, clean and convenient. These machines have evolved into highly reliable pieces of dental equipment that are almost indispensable in most of the applications they serve. Compressors can come in a wide variety of different types and sizes.
While there are many types of dental compressors, they all perform the same function, which is to increase the pressure and reduce the volume of a given gas such as air. The most common type of compressors work by filling a chamber with air and then reducing the chamber’s volume. These are called positive displacement compressors. They are the most widely available compressors and include reciprocating, rotary screw and rotary vane compressors.
1. Choose between piston-type and portable compressors. Essentially, there are two different kinds of air compressors. Piston-type compressors rely on a motor which builds up air pressure when it gets depleted. These store compressed air in tanks. Portable compressors do not have tanks, and so much stay running continuously in order to deliver air.
Piston-type compressors come in two varieties. The single-stage compressors use only one piston to compress air and top out at about 150 psi. Two-stage compressors use two pistons to deliver near continuous air pressure, and top out at around 200 psi.
Single-stage compressors are adequate for more heavy-duty applications at home. Two-stage compressors are more often used in industrial settings where owners expect near continuous usage.
Portable air compressors are more viable for light home use. Powering caulk guns, spray guns, glue guns, as well as for inflating small tires and rafts.
2. Look at the horsepower (HP) of the air compressor. A common range for horsepower on an air compressor is between 1.5 and 6.5 HP. Air compressors with larger HP capacity exist, but are usually reserved for industrial uses and offer far greater psi. Small-scale uses won’t require as much horsepower as industrial uses.
3. Consider your power source. Will you have the luxury of electricity at all times, or will you be in environments without electricity. If you’ll be next to an outlet at all times, it’s best to choose a drive system with an electric motor. If not, you’ll be forced to drive the compressor via a gasoline engine.
Most electric air compressors will run on 110V (US), but some larger ones run on 240V. Find out before you make the purchase.