The type of repair that you need will depend on the type of handpiece that you have. Most dental offices use high speed handpieces more often than low speed, yet both are useful. You should expect to need your high speed handpiece maintained more often due to the wear and tear on the bearings. The type of maintenance that you perform on your handpiece will also depend on the intricate parts involved on each type of tool.

High speed handpieces are also known as drills in the dental world. This tool is a power-driven tool that has speeds of 400,000 rpm and up. The drill is of course used to drill holes for fillings and assist in other types of dental work like polishing dental trays for dentures.

Low speed handpieces rotate at reduced speeds somewhere between 0 and 80,000 rpm, depending upon the make and model. These handpieces are equipped with a speed control ring, allowing you as the user to control the speed of the ring manually.

Electric handpieces tend to have a greater cost and a higher number of parts that you’ll need to maintain, while air-driven pieces can be obtained in full, often for less than $1,000. Air-driven handpieces also tend to be lighter and easier to handle, with the latest innovations providing greater torque so you can use them for many applications over a longer period of time.

If your dental handpiece is vibrating more than usual, it could be a sign that there’s a problem with the handpiece itself. The simple solution is that you may simply just need to flush the handpiece out with oil as directed by your manufacturer. Simple lubrication can work wonders for your handpiece. Alternatively, the bearings inside of the tool could be loose.

If you notice that your dental handpiece is turning slower than normal, there could be a problem with the motor (Micro Motor Handpiece). This could also be due to a lack of regular servicing of the dental handpiece on your part. If the turbine inside of the tool has problem, you could also be looking at a problem with the motor on your dental handpiece. It may even be worth replacing your handpiece all together with a refurbished dental handpiece.

Handpieces need regular application of lubricant in order to avoid quickly degrading.  Before every sterilization a few drops should be placed on certain spots while the handpiece runs on a low speed. This will prevent the dental handpiece from being down for an extended period of time. Regular servicing of your dental handpiece is crucial to ensure a long and well-functioning operation of the tool.