The cornerstone of any dentist’s kit is the handpiece. These tools are indispensable in modern dentistry – many of the tasks they perform would, in the old days, have to be achieved with brute force. Some tasks could not be done at all.
The degree of control and accuracy that dentists, hygienists, and lab technicians get from handpieces means that all manner of procedures, both simple and complex, can be performed with minimal fuss (and pain), from straightforward cleaning and removal of decay to major operations. Handpieces come in all shapes and sizes so that your dentist will always have the right tool for the job. Let’s look at some of those different types.
What are handpieces?
Put simply, handpieces are dentist’s drills. The use of tools for dentistry can be traced back to 7000 BC – an archeological discovery of an Indus Valley Civilization there was evidence of a drill used for teeth. Dentistry equipment has (obviously) developed quite a bit since then, and the modern tools on offer help dentists to offer improved treatments as well as harness the technology to perform new procedures altogether.
Choosing a handpiece
Dentists now have the luxury of choosing numerous handpieces for their work. The type of handpieces chosen depends on the type of operation they are meant to carry out. High-speed options are often better for preparing teeth, whereas slower ones are usually better for polishing and finishing. Whatever the handpiece, it’s important to properly maintain it – make sure your surgery has a call-out repair service for added convenience.
High-speed air turbine handpieces
An air turbine handpiece is a dental abrasive device that rotates at high speed and uses compressed air as the driving force. It is characterized by its small size, lightweight, and ability to easily cut teeth without pressure, heat, or vibration. It is mainly used to remove tooth tissue. A high-speed handpiece requires care and accuracy to use and is generally noisy while in operation. Options available include head size, motor noise, light source, and unit weight.
Low-speed air turbine handpieces
Low-speed handpieces are used for the removal of soft decay, finishing cavity preparation (for endodontic procedures such as root canal treatments), polishing, trimming and prophy work. Some models are used for a variety of surgical procedures and also extraoral procedures such as trimming dentures. Options usually include dental bur attachment, air/water nozzles, material, and angle design.
Electric handpieces
With electric handpieces the entire system is within, meaning it doesn’t rely on air-driven precision. The bur is connected through gears in the head of the handpiece to a central drive shaft that is physically turned by the motor. Electric handpieces help dentists who have to work in tight conditions or at difficult angles and can be a good all-round handpiece. This is because electric handpieces are usually pretty flexible, but they also come in all shapes and sizes, useful across the board.
Surgical handpieces
Surgical handpieces paired with surgical burs perform endodontic, periodontal and other kinds of procedures. Air-powered surgical handpieces are designed to port air away from the surgical location to lower the risk of air embolism. This is achieved with grated vents which prevent air from spraying into the oral cavity. They’re used to prepare cavities for restoration or crown work, remove tooth structure and create margins, and can cut through pretty much anything meaning that any good dentist will take great care using one.
Endodontic handpieces
These are used almost exclusively for the dreaded root canal. A good endodontic handpiece is designed to make cleaning and shaping canals easier during root canal treatments. This leads to a smoother and less unpleasant experience for both dentist and patient. An endodontic handpiece accomplishes this by driving endodontic files with precision.
Burs
Dental burs are used for cutting hard tissues – tooth or bone. They are made of steel, stainless steel, tungsten carbide and diamond grit, and each specializes in a different area, from preparing cavities and shaving bone through to polishing, removing dentin, and moving existing acrylic pieces.
With a wide variety of specialist tools to choose from, dentists and their patients are both benefiting. These invaluable pieces of equipment take dentistry to a new level.
