Handpieces are a key part of any dental surgery and are used daily for various procedures. Dental handpieces come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and each one is designed to serve a specific purpose so you can run your surgery safely and efficiently. However, you might find yourself wondering what’s the difference between them all and which ones you’ll need for certain tasks.
In this guide, we are going to take you through all the different types of dental handpieces and their key functions to help you make informed purchasing decisions for your surgery as well as ensure you have all the right tools for the jobs you’re undertaking. After all, your first priorities should always be to keep your patients safe and comfortable, and your surgery practice running smoothly.
What’s the difference between high-speed and low-speed handpieces?
Before we dive into all of the various kinds of handpieces, it’s important to know about the two sub-categories that they fall under; high-speed and low-speed handpieces. The main difference between these types is their ability to operate at different revolutions per minute (RPM).
High-speed handpieces – High-speed handpieces operate at around 200,000 to 400,000 RPM and are designed to facilitate intricate and precise dental procedures such as cavity removal, the finishing and polishing of dental materials, and tooth preparation. The high speeds offer more efficient cutting and removal and allow dentists to work with both accuracy and speed. We also have some great high-speed turbine handpieces or red-band speed-increasing handpieces in our shop if you want to view some of these tools for yourself.
Low-speed handpieces – In contrast, low-speed handpieces operate in a range of around 5,000 and 40,000 RPM. They are designed for procedures that require greater control and gentle removal. As they work slowly, they minimise the risk of patient discomfort as they provide less vibration, and therefore contribute to a more comfortable experience for both the patient and dentist.
What are the different types of dental handpieces?
Now that we know the difference between high-speed and low-speed handpieces, let’s get into all of the different types of handpieces. Below, you can find a comprehensive list of all the types of handpieces and their functions in dental surgery to help you better understand which ones you’ll need for your procedures.
Straight handpieces
Straight handpieces are just as they sound, they have a straight handle with a rotating bur at the end to provide precise control and access to hard-to-reach areas. Straight handpieces are used for procedures such as the trimming and contouring of temporary crowns, the relining of removable dentures, and the contouring of orthodontic appliances.
If you’re looking for the right handpieces for these specific procedures then you browse our full range of straight handpieces here at Trigiene to make your practice smoother than ever.
Contra angle/ Electric handpieces
The head on a contra-angle handpiece (also known as an electric handpiece when connected to an electric motor) is tilted and the burs are perpendicular to the handle of the handpiece, making it ideal for crown cutting, the removal of decay, the finishing and polishing of restorations, and the refining of cavity prevention. The contra-angle handpiece offers stability and simple accessibility while working. Contra-angle handpieces are also gear-driven via an air or electric motor and come in a range of gear ratios to produce slower or faster speeds.
If you’re planning on doing any decay removal or crown cutting and need the right equipment, browse our range of contra-angle handpieces on the Trigiene shop site.
Prophy angle
A prophy angle handpiece accommodates disposable prophy angles or cups. These attach to the end of the handpiece and are used to remove plaque and stains from teeth. Prophy handpieces can come in both stainless steel and disposable plastic, but for the best and most economical practice, we would recommend getting a long-lasting stainless steel prophy angle handpiece.
Surgical / implant handpieces
These handpieces were designed with safe oral, maxillofacial surgery and implantology in mind. They are built to be robust with high-quality stainless steel. Another important feature of the surgical handpiece is that it must have an external water spray port as this is required to attach the sterile saline water tubing – which is important for avoiding issues and difficulties. If you want to see some high-quality examples of surgical and implant handpieces then you can browse our oral surgery and implantology collection.
Endodontic handpieces
Endo handpieces are specifically designed for root canal shaping prior to cleaning and filling. These handpieces are built for accuracy and control to prevent file breakage or binding. They also work with all NiTi file systems and other operational equipment for complete precision. Endo handpieces are normally speed-reducing or reciprocal motion but can be part of an endodontic motor.
If you want to browse some of these handpieces for your next root canal surgery then you can visit our endodontic handpieces collection.
Air turbine handpiece
An air turbine handpiece is driven by compressed air via a turbine in the handpiece head, allowing the handpieces to reach high speeds of 250,000 and 420,000 rpm. This makes them great for cutting and drilling as the compressed air-powered tool can cut through teeth flawlessly. However, under larger loads, the bur may slow down or lose some cutting power, so should only be used with lighter loads.
Get dental handpieces for your surgery with Trigiene
While there are many different kinds of dental handpieces, each one has a unique function that has been created to make your practice easier, safer and more efficient than ever – making it essential you know the differences between them. If you want to keep your surgery running smoothly then browse our wide range of dental handpieces at the Trigiene shop to get reliable handpieces for every occasion.
