Performing proper handpiece maintenance can prolong the life of your tools, keep them working like new, and leave them less likely to need frequent repairs. Each section below lists procedures and tips you can use to improve the quality of your handpieces.

High-Speed Handpieces

1. Clean the external surface with warm water using a cloth or brush.
2. Insert a bur into the chuck of the handpiece. Spray lubricant into the drive air tube for 2 to 3 seconds until the lubricant comes out of the head of the handpiece. If the handpiece uses a quick disconnect coupler, use the appropriate adapter on the lubricant can.
3. Slightly rotate the bur to loosen any debris in the head of the handpiece.
4. Attach the handpiece to the supply line. Run the handpiece for 10-20 seconds or until all lubricant is expressed from the head.
5. Remove the bur and wipe the handpiece to remove excessive lubricant.
6. Place the handpiece in a bag for autoclaving.

Slow-Speed Handpieces

Motors: 

1. Clean the external surface with warm water using a cloth or brush and dry with a paper towel.
2. Place three drops of oil or a one second blast of spray lubricant into the air tube.
3. Attach the motor to a supply line and operate for 30 seconds alternating the direction ring to disperse the lubricant.
4. Wipe the motor to remove excessive lubricant if necessary.

Nose Cones:

1. Remove from the motor and clean the external surface with warm water using a cloth or brush and dry with a paper towel.
2. Place three drops of oil or a one second blast of spray lubricant into the chuck and back end.
3. Attach the motor to a supply line and operate for 30 seconds until all lubricant is expressed.
4. Wipe the motor to remove excessive lubricant if necessary.

Contra Angle & Latch Heads:

1. Disconnect contra angle from the latch head.
   Clean the external surface of each with warm water using a cloth or brush and dry with a paper towel.
2. Place three drops of oil or a one second blast of spray lubricant into both ends of the contra angle.
3. Place three drops of oil or a one second blast of spray lubricant into the chuck of the latch head and one drop of oil on each gear and center hole of the shaft.
4. Reassemble and attach to the motor and operate for 30 seconds until all lubricant is expressed.
5. Wipe the motor to remove excessive lubricant if necessary.

Electric Handpieces

1. Remove the handpiece from the motor.
2. Clean the external surface of each with warm water using a cloth or brush.
3. Insert a bur into the chuck of the handpiece. Attach an E-type adapter to the spray lubricant, insert the adapter into the back-end and spray for 2 to 3 seconds until the lubricant comes out the head of the handpiece.
4. Slightly rotate the bur to loosen any debris in the head of the handpiece.
5. Attach the handpiece to the motor. Run the handpiece for 10-20 seconds or until all lubricant is expressed from the head. If the lubricant is discolored, repeat step #3 until the lubricant is clear.
6. Remove the bur and wipe the handpiece to remove excessive lubricant.
7. Place the handpiece in a bag for autoclaving.

Other Tips

1. Check to ensure that your delivery unit air pressure is set to the manufacturer's recommended pressure. Most handpiece drive air pressures are between 32-42 PSI. The air pressure should be measured at the handpiece connection to the supply tubing. This will produce the most accurate reading possible. Increasing air pressure will not increase handpiece performance due to increased back pressure, but may damage the turbine.
2. Never tighten any manual chuck without a bur in place, or you may damage the chuck.
3. Never operate any handpiece without a bur securely in place. Do not depress the push button of a handpiece during operation. This may open the chucking mechanism and release the bur.

When choosing your handpiece provider the two biggest factors to look into is the quality and the warranty. Here at ProDental we offer a six month warranty on all handpieces with no callbacks to date. We repair low-speed, high-speed, and electric handpieces. Need handpiece repair now? Call us today at 502-299-8633 and we will come pick up your handpieces for repair. Just recently had yours repaired? Call us and we will mail you handpiece repair boxes with pre-paid shipping labels! 

ProDental

Your Handpiece Partner