Blog posts of '2021' 'February'

Dental handpieces are an extension of a dentist’s arms. It is the primary instrument used in combination with other tools like burs. While dental handpiece instruments are used in everyday practice, the noise they create alongside the heat generation is two of the biggest concerns dentists have since those factors impact patient experience.

The essence of picking quality handpieces is to ensure quality procedures and patient satisfaction. 

Dentists utilize various types of electric dental handpieces. They have the same function and “almost” the same characteristics. However, little issues like water not running right or your chair energy can dramatically decrease handpieces’ lifetime and impact your practice reputation.

In this article, we will cover: 

1. The damages the wrong handpiece can cause

2. The reason you should invest in quality high- and slow-speed handpieces is to protect yourself and your patients. 

3. Some examples of handpieces, such as that you can buy.

Let’s start with the potential damage caused by using the wrong handpiece

The wrong handpieces can make louder than expected noise and scare your patients, and even damage your patients’ teeth due to malfunction. If handpiece parts and attached products such as the bur are not working properly, this may have detrimental effects on your performance as a practitioner. See the below list of issues to keep in mind when shopping for these dental tools (shopping list below).

1. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)

CTS is considered the most frequently occurring syndrome affecting dentists, caused by nerve compressions. This may occur due to inadequate angle of the wrist during use and added pressure on the joint.

2. Burning of handpiece leading to low-quality results

The coolant is important to ensure you won’t burn your tool. If it is not working properly, it may result in several problems. These include damage caused to your handpiece cartridge and burning your finger. 

In addition, if your handpiece’s water system is not working correctly or there’s poor lighting, it can lead to the working site's obscured vision, leading to reduced working efficiency and inaccurate procedures when doing composite fillings, root canal treatments, extractions, and more. Besides, it can burn your patient’s mouth and damage the tooth structure. 

3. Risk of hearing loss

Dental handpieces that are overly noisy can expose you to damage your hearing over time. Although the risk of damage to your ears from the 90-99 decibel level of noise created by the handpiece is minimal, exposure to such noise on a daily basis for 15-45 minutes at a time, multiple times per day, can be detrimental for the cochlear cells over the years.

4. Development of Neuropathy

The study by Occupational and Environmental Medicine on Neuropathy in female dental personnel exposed to high-frequency vibrations has shown that dental personnel, particularly women, who are exposed to high-frequency vibrations from the high-speed handpiece are at risk of developing significant weakening of vibrotactile sensation, strength, and motor performance that may eventually lead to neuropathy.

5. Risk of cross-contamination

Reusing dental handpieces without sterilizing them can substantially put patients at risk. The evidence from an article on Internal contamination of air-driven low-speed handpieces and attached prophy angles published by the Journal of the American Dental Association has repeatedly shown that both high and slow speed handpieces that are not autoclavable can be sources of infection and increase the risk of cross-contamination.

However, does sterilizing handpieces possibly reduce their longevity? Well, this can be true but only in cases where the equipment is not adequately maintained. However, Dr. Judith R Chin in her study - Internal contamination of air-driven low-speed handpieces and attached prophy angles, concluded that properly maintained dental handpiece instruments 500 sterilization cycles can be expected without significantly affecting their performance.

Points to consider when investing in quality dental handpieces

Investing in quality electric or air-driven handpieces is fundamental to running a quality dental practice. Furthermore, first-rate surgical handpieces would give you the best clinical outcomes with profound patient satisfaction. This would be a positive reflection of your integrity while also earning you long-term patient retention. 

• It should have FDA-approval

• It should be autoclavable

• It should not create a noise of more than 70-85 decibels

• The size of the head should not be too big for ease of access and visibility

• It should exhibit minimum vibration while working

• All the handpiece parts and products, like turbines, lubricants, and cleaners, etc., should be compatible and also of high quality. 

Our picks for buying handpieces online

1. Maxso Contra Angle-Smart Slow Speed Attachments from Beyes Dental

Beyes’ handpieces offer multiple contra-angle heads that meet all your day-to-day treatment needs. 

Highlights: 

• They work seamlessly with a mutual handpiece shank, providing every clinician the ease of matching their specialized needs. 

• Shanks and heads can all be autoclaved at a maximum of 135℃ 

• Very durable material 

• The heads or shanks of these pieces can be bought separately, offering you the convenience of combining them according to your use. 

2. Airlight M800X Torque Mini Head Highspeed Handpiece from Beyes Dental 

The Airlight M800x handpiece is one of the leading high-speed handpieces. It features air-driven technology, is durable, and works at a torque of 25-watts. Its direct LED light system offers a brighter wider illumination as opposed to other power-optic tools. What’s more? Its built-in generator eliminates the need to connect the handpiece with the delivery unit’s fiber-optic system. 

With its advanced technology and four-port water spray, Beyes’ Airlight M800X Highspeed Handpiece is both user-friendly for clinicians and comfortable for patients.

Highlights:

• Instant-stop technology prevents backflow and noise

• Quattro spray (four water ports) offering optimal cooling

• X ball bearings make it more durable than others

• 27W torque offers precision cutting 

• Built-in generator removes the need for attachment to a dental unit’s fiber-optic system

• Clear operative field with direct LED+

• Micro-Tex offers anti-slip operation

3. Airlight M800 Plus High-Speed Handpiece by Beyes Dental 

The innovative Airlight PLUS is a durable, air-driven handpiece available in the market. It has a torque of about 25 watts and is intended to cater to 60 PSI air pressure, offering the clinician composure. Alight M800 Plus is a true leader in the air-driven high-speed handpiece category, with its innovative features that include:

• The advanced builtin microgenerator does not need a connection to the dental unit’s fiber-optic system

• No overheating with its triple water spray.

• Titanium body offering minimal to no operative slippage 

• Direct LED provides a wider light pattern

• Predominantly quiet operation and longer lifespan with its ceramic ball bearings.

To Sum Up

Your handpiece serves as a paintbrush that you can use to craft perfect and beautiful smiles for your patients. By investing in the right high-quality handpiece, you can save money and time with concurrent issues and transform lives with peace of mind.

References:

1. Safety Tips to Prevent Hearing Loss. ADA.  https://success.ada.org/en/wellness/safety-tips-to-avoid-hearing-loss

2. Carpal Tunnel caused by Unmaintained Dental Handpieces. Hughes. https://hughesdentalrepair.com/carpal-tunnel-caused-unmaintained-dental-handpieces/

3. Akesson I, Lundborg G, Horstmann V, Skerfving S. Neuropathy in female dental personnel exposed to high-frequency vibrations. 1995;52: 116-123. https://oem.bmj.com/content/oemed/52/2/116.full.pdf

4. Evans S. A practice manager’s guide to dental handpieces. Dentistry Online. Aug, 2018. Williams G. Dental handpieces: What to consider before you buy (part 1). Dentistry IQ. Aug, 2019.https://www.dentistryiq.com/dentistry/products/handpieces-burs-and-polishers/article/14038207/dental-handpieces-what-dentists-should-consider-when-making-a-purchase

5. Anonymous. Dental Handpieces and Other Devices Attached to Air and Waterlines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mar, 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/faqs/dental-handpieces.html

6. Kelsch N. Sterilizing handpieces. RDH. Nov 2011. https://www.rdhmag.com/infection-control/article/16408601/sterilizing-handpieces

7. Anonymous. Tips for choosing the right handpiece. Jul, 2020. https://www.dentaltix.com/en/blog/tips-choosing-right-handpiece

8. Chin JR, Miller CH, Palenik CJ. Internal contamination of air-driven low-speed handpieces and attached prophy angles. J Am Dent Assoc. 2006 Sep;137(9):1275-80. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.2006.0386. PMID: 16946433. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16946433/