Handpieces are perhaps the essential tool in dentistry, used in procedures ranging from basic teeth cleanings to complicated surgeries. Given that, it’s important for any practice that they be in good working order. Caring for patients is a dentist’s utmost priority, but optimal care can’t be achieved without also caring for the practice’s equipment. In the case of handpieces, that means knowing how to best maintain and troubleshoot them in the office, as well as understanding when you need to send them out for more complicated fixes. Handpieces are extremely precise tools that typically run at speeds of 400,000 rpms or more, and regular maintenance is key to keeping them operating at top performance. First and foremost, that means keeping your handpieces well-lubricated. If you don’t, this can create serious damage to the device’s internal components and shorten the lifespan of your equipment. Ideally, you should lubricate a handpiece after every procedure, but this maintenance step is oftentimes easy to overlook. Manually cleaning and lubricating a handpiece only takes a few minutes, but multiply this by several handpieces and multiple procedures and those minutes can add up — especially during a busy workday.
The good news is, manufacturers have developed automated handpiece maintenance systems that can process multiple handpieces at a time. Simply wipe your handpieces down after your procedures, put them in the maintenance system and it will lubricate the batch in about a minute, after which you can wipe down, sterilize and be ready to go. And because these systems are hands-free, you can take care of other bits of business while they work. Cameron Longacre, a technical services supervisor at Henry Schein Dental, explains that he has seen a decline in service calls from offices that have purchased the Maxima XTEND automated maintenance system. "They are getting much more use out of their handpieces, which really brings it to a much lower cost of ownership," he says, adding that customers who purchase a maintenance system typically see a more than 20% decrease in repair costs. One recent customer, Dr. Jay Bauman, seconds that claim. "Since we began using this maintenance system, our repairs have decreased drastically," he says. "For every 10 handpieces we used to send out for repair, we now send one. It has streamlined our maintenance procedures, and I recommend this unit to many of my friends and colleagues to use in their practices." One tip for practices that opt for an automated maintenance system: pay attention to where you place it. Ideally you want it to be as easy as possible to move handpieces from the operatory to the maintenance system to the autoclave for sterilization.
Beyond regular lubrication, it’s also important to make sure your sterilization processes aren’t leading to extra wear and tear on your handpieces. Commonly used cleaning products like wipes can damage equipment if not used correctly. Chemicals from cleaning wipes can seep into a handpiece’s seams and pores, saturating the O-rings and bearings within. When you then put the handpiece into a sterilizer, the high temperatures inside can essentially bake these chemicals into the handpiece’s internal components, causing premature degradation. To mitigate this problem, make sure the wipes you use aren’t overly saturated with cleaning fluid. This can be an issue especially when you’re getting toward the end of a container. Basic alcohol wipes are a better option for wiping off a handpiece prior to lubrication and sterilization. Because alcohol evaporates very quickly, it’s less likely to linger inside the instrument and cause damage. Also, less is more when it comes to wipes. You’re really just trying to get any debris off the outside of the handpiece. Other common cleaning practices that can damage your equipment include submerging handpieces in solution in an ultrasonic cleaner and washing them under running water in a sink. Make sure to also check that your handpieces have been removed from their delivery system tubing before starting maintenance. This is another common oversight that can cause problems. To avoid these common cleaning mistakes, it’s important to follow the specific maintenance recommendations for your particular handpiece. Most air-driven and electric-driven handpieces have the same maintenance requirements, but you may need different adapters for each to properly lubricate them. Corded and cordless electric handpieces will have different maintenance procedures depending on what they are used for — for instance, if they are laboratory handpieces or surgical or hygiene handpieces. It’s always best to refer to the instructions for your particular piece of equipment.
Of course, even the best-maintained equipment will fail sometimes, so it’s important to know how to troubleshoot when you run into a problem and to distinguish between issues that can be solved in the office and those that require sending your equipment to a supplier for a fix. One common sign that something isn’t right is a change in the sound the handpiece makes when operating. This can range from a subtle shift in frequency to an unmistakable (and quite unpleasant) squeal. First, check if a damaged bur is the cause, in which case you may be able to replace it with a fresh bur and be just fine. If that doesn’t fix things, though, it’s probably time to call a repair service like Henry Schein Dental’s ProRepair and speak to a technician. They can help you diagnose the problem over the phone or let you know if you need to send the piece in for repair. A noticeable decline in instrument performance is another sign you might need to get your handpiece checked out, along with complete instrument failure — though, in these cases, you might want to check your plugs and couplings first. Mr. Longacre says he has encountered situations where what looks to be a handpiece problem is actually something else entirely. For instance, one customer thought their handpiece was broken because they weren’t getting any water flow through it. It turned out that the bottle the instrument pulled water from was empty, but no one realized it. In another instance, the handpiece light wasn’t working, but there was nothing wrong with the handpiece itself — the power supply to the light had gone out. The lifespan of a handpiece depends on the intensity of use, but with proper maintenance, a typical office should be able to get five to six years out of a handpiece. Of course, there are outliers. Mr. Longacre says he recently dealt with an office that still had multiple handpieces in use after more than 25 years. "It’s a real testament to their maintenance protocols," he says. For older handpieces, repairs aren’t always possible, given that many parts may no longer be available. New equipment, on the other hand, can almost always be repaired, but at a certain point the cost of those repairs might outweigh the price of just buying something new. And, as Mr. Longacre notes, there is always something new. He cited as one example the development of new single-use aerosol evacuators designed to reduce the aerosols produced by handpieces during procedures — an issue that has come to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic. "In a world with so many technological advancements, the same things are happening with handpieces, extensive research and development and engineering are constantly occurring behind the scenes to bring dental offices the best quality, highest performing and longest lasting handpieces and equipment to the industry," he says.
Because handpieces are so essential to dental practices, it’s important to take care of them properly. Doing so will lower your operating costs and extend the life of your instruments. But, even the best-maintained handpieces will eventually need some repairs. Whether it’s something that you can handle in-house or a problem that requires sending out for work, the experts at Henry Schein Dental’s ProRepair can help you every step of the way.
To learn more about Henry Schein Dental’s ProRepair services for handpiece equipment, click here.