How Often Should I Get My Dental Handpieces Repaired?

That is the “million-dollar question” most dentists ask, but unfortunately, there isn’t an easy way to answer. Most dental practices have anywhere from 8 to 12 working handpieces that get rotated throughput the practice on a daily and weekly basis. But we all have our “favorites” and tend to use them more often than others, because it’s human nature to use what we are most comfortable with. If you tend to use your “favorite” handpieces at higher RPM’s than what is suggested by the manufacturer, and ignore the daily and weekly maintenance, then those handpieces will need to be repaired more often.

Dental handpieces are the workhorse of any dental practice, so scheduling daily or weekly maintenance is essential to keeping these workhorses in proper working condition. Following the manufacturer’s recommended daily maintenance and speed intervals will extend the life of your handpieces. In addition, you will need to schedule routine maintenance or “tune-ups” to ensure proper performance.

Since a high-speed handpiece drill runs at 400,000 to 500,000 RPI’s, and is sterilized at 275 degrees after each use, its parts tend to wear out. The turbine is the only moving part in an air-driven handpiece, and takes the most abuse during sterilization, so it needs to be replaced frequently. Replacing the turbine usually includes replacing the spindle, autochuck, impeller, bearings, and o-rings, as well as cleaning, lubricating and testing to the manufacture’s specifications. Replacement usually happens when you start to notice a decrease in performance, such as a wobbly bur or a reduction in speed. However, performing a thorough inspection of your handpiece could reveal that only certain parts need to be replaced.

If you start to notice a decrease in the performance of your dental handpiece, it is important to quickly find a reputable handpiece repair company to help protect your investment, minimize your handpiece downtime and keep your handpiece running at optimal performance.

We’d love to partner with you to help repair and extend the life of your dental handpieces. New customers save $50 on the first dental handpiece repair order! Just check “New Customer” on our contact form.