What dental high-speed instruments are currently on the market? What are the current trends in the restoration and orthodontic industries? What is the expected future development? The information below will help you quickly and accurately choose the right dental handpiece for you.
Dental handpieces, such as contra-angle handpieces and turbine handpieces, are now considered more than just simple "commodities." However, the following will clearly explain why this view is insufficient. Dental handpieces are the most important tools for dentists and a crucial component of modern dental clinics.
There are two types of systems that drive the bur: pneumatic systems and electric systems.
In pneumatic systems, the designs of the turbine and the pneumatic motor are different. For turbines, the rotor directly drives the bur. The rotor's impeller is driven by compressed gas. The no-load speed of the turbine can reach up to 400,000 RPM. The actual working speed depends on the applied force, approximately half of the no-load speed, which is about 150,000 to 250,000 RPM. The maximum power achievable within this speed range is 10-26 watts. In contrast, pneumatic motors indirectly drive the bur through a contra-angle or straight handpiece. The highest speed achievable by a pneumatic motor is 25,000 RPM. There are contra-angle handpieces with different gear ratios. Thus, a pneumatic motor equipped with a 2:1 reduction ratio contra-angle handpiece can achieve a speed of approximately 12,500 RPM.
Decades later, electric motors have become very popular in Europe and Asia. Technological innovations in design, materials, torque, and lighting have now made electric motors increasingly popular in North America. Electric motors make the work of dental clinics simpler and faster. Currently, the product range of straight and contra-angle handpieces covers the right instruments for all needs. Most manufacturers can provide products suitable for a wide range of applications, as well as products aimed at highly specialized clinical applications.
The advantages of turbine handpieces lie in their simple and robust structure, affordable price, and lighter weight. However, the high-frequency noise generated by turbine handpieces has been a very serious problem for the operator's hearing over the years. In contrast, electric motors operate more quietly and cause less auditory damage. Considering the amount of tooth tissue removed per unit of time, electric motors with water cooling systems are more advanced than turbine motors in terms of grinding.
In recent years, with the continuous development of motors, manufacturers have clearly realized that the ergonomic design of the weight and size of dental handpieces plays a decisive role in purchasing decisions. Instruments manufactured in the last three to five years have significantly reduced weight and size. A 30% reduction in weight and a 15% reduction in size are quite common. This progress is due to the reduction in the size of the ISO motor connector. Please note that "reduced-size contra-angle handpieces" can only be used on motors with smaller E-type connectors. Even with the general trend toward lighter weight, turbine handpieces are still smaller and lighter than electric motor-driven contra-angle handpiece systems.