How Components of Handpieces Make Up an Important Tool for Your Practice
In dentistry, the terms “dental drill” and handpiece are often used interchangeably. However, a handpiece is also a specific part of a dental drill. Before inquiring about handpiece repair, do you know how dental drills are designed and made? Although there are different types of dental drills, handpieces still have the same basic components. They are composed of motors, a small air turbine, a handpiece, couplings and a drill bit. Here are some of the components that make up a dental drill that you should know about:
Handpiece:
The handpiece is the slender shaped tube that keeps the drill bit connected to the driving motor. Whether the handpiece is made of plastic or metal, it underwent a moulding process to obtain its practical shape. The curve is designed specifically for the drill bit to be able to spin at fast speeds. During a handpiece repair, the specialist will open up the body of the dental drill and repair the motor, drill bit, couplings or air turbine engine.
The Drill Bit or Bur:
The drill bit is the most important part of the handpiece. Even though there are several different kinds of drill bits for different types of drilling, they all follow the same process to be made. Drill bits are formed from tungsten carbide particles. The tungsten ore is first chemically processed to produce tungsten oxides. The resulted metal powder is then blended with carbon and is heated. Then, hydrogen is added to the process to remove any oxygen. This finally results in tungsten carbide particles, which are then processed to shape the appropriate drill bit. Other additions onto the drill bit may include a cooling system and fiberoptic illumination among several other features. Your handpiece repair specialist knows their way around a drill bit to make it as good as new.
Air Turbine Engine:
The air turbines determine the speed at which the drill bit or bur spins. Faster dental drills are used to go deeper into a tooth, while slower ones are used for polishing or soft tissue drilling. Inside the handpiece, couplings help connect two drive shafts that create the mechanical energy from the small air turbine motor.
During handpiece repair, the specialist ensures that all pieces of the dental drill are in excellent condition. Specialists in dental drill repair are professionally trained to fix issues with headpieces. They understand the importance that these tools have for you. Cleaning your device on a regular basis not only prevents bacteria from growing, but it also prevents damage to these important tools for your practice.