A dental handpiece is a common instrument widely used in endodontics, general dentistry and implantology. With advancements in technology, there are other options from a dental air-driven handpiece and that is precisely the electric handpiece. .
Both of these have their set of pros and cons.
This article discusses which one of these is better for your dental practice. Keep reading below to know more!
Factors for Choosing Between the Handpieces
As a dental practitioner, you can hardly go by a day without using the handpiece.
Therefore, you need to choose the equipment that is most comfortable to use as it is going to stay in your hand the longest throughout the day.
In order to have a relentless dental practice, you need to ensure that the handpiece you select functions perfectly meeting your needs.
There are two main types of dental handpieces, electric and air-driven.
This difference arises from the bur of the handpieces.
That bur is either powered by electricity or air.
Both are used for restorative procedures such as aesthetic resin restorations as well as other endodontic and implantology procedures.
However, when it comes to comparing and choosing between the two, the most important factors are:
- Torque
- Speed
The torque measures the power of the dental instruments in watts whereas the speed is measured in revolutions per minute.
The air-driven handpieces are available at both high and low speeds.
Hence, it is possible to choose the handpiece with the optimal speed you need.
Though, its torque changes at different speeds.
At a higher speed, the torque tends to be lower.
That can result in certain resistance building up when the bur comes in contact with the tooth structure.
On the other hand, an electric handpiece works with equal torque at both high and low speeds.
As that stabilizes the handpiece at a constant speed, the results end up becoming more precise and accurate.
Hence, while selecting any handpiece, you need to look into the torque and speed that suits your needs, ensures a smooth procedure and will give you optimal results.
Besides there differences in speed and torque, each of the handpieces has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s know below!
Electric Handpiece Advantages
Constant Torque and Smoother Cut
As already discussed above, the torque of the electric handpieces does not change.
Hence, even if the load or the speed increases the torque does not decrease with that resistance.
Due to that, you get a more precise and smoother cut.
Constant Speed Gives way to flexibility
You can keep a constant pace and speed while using this handpiece.
Therefore, that helps in making higher flexibility for preparations.
The electric handpiece comes in handy while working on dense materials such as cutting through dental crowns to eliminate any speed delays or variations.
In fact, its speed can reach up to 200,000 rpm.
Though, the constant speed can be between 100 to 40,000 rpm.
Improved Functionality
Many electric handpieces have the function of lowering lowering speed, controlling torque and also do an ENDO preparation.
Moreover, the diameter of its head is smaller than that of an air-driven handpiece.
Hence, the viewing angle for this one is rather better.
The electric motors also have an LED light so that is a pro while working on the patient’s mouth.
Less Aerosol Formation
While using an air-driven handpiece in order to prepare teeth, an aerosol cloud of particles as well as water forms.
However, an electric handpiece produces less aerosol.
Improves Patient Comfort
Patients tend to like this handpiece as it is quieter.
It does not produce noise or the same vibration sensation as an air-driven handpiece.
That can improve comfort for patients and reduce their dental anxiety.
It also does not generate as much heat.
While the handpiece has its pros, there are also some limitations that become disadvantageous.
More on that later.
First, let’s look into the pros and cons of the other air-driven handpiece.
The Disadvantages of Air-Driven Handpiece
An air-driven handpiece uses compressed air energy to generate cutting or rotational action.
While some advantages such as affordability and ease of handling makes them a popular choice for dentists, it still has its set of disadvantages that make it a not so ideal choice.
Lack of Patient Comfort
If electric handpieces prvide comfort, the air-driven ones may be discomforting.
The negatively affect the patient’s experince as the air rotor generates a high noise.
That can increase stress in people who have dental anxiety.
The vibrating sensation and the noise coming from the air rotor can make the procedure difficult for the patients.
Reduced Speed and Torque
Unlike an electric handpiece, the speed of the air-driven handpiece does not remain the same.
Hence, if the speed is higher then the torque is rather lower.
The reduced speed can then build up resistance as the bur comes in contact with the tooth structure.
That results in an interrupted cutting efficiency.
At the end, the results are not as smooth or the handpiece as flexible as an electric one.
Therefore, efficiency can be compromised.
More Aerosol Formation
When you are preparing teeth using the handpiece in dental treatments, the aerosol cloud of particles as well as water accumulates.
This can affect the clinical environment by contaminating it.
On the other hand, the electrical ones produce less aerosol therefore, kepe the environment clean.
Besides these disadvantages, the air-driven handpieces are still very common in use.
That would certainly be due to its advantages.
So, let’s find out!
Advantages of Air-Driven Equipment
An air-driven handpiece also has its fair share of advantages.
It uses the energy of the air in order to create the rotary movement.
Overall these come at an affordable price and at a good quality. Some of its advantages for health professionals include:
Light weight and low head height
These handpieces are smaller with a low head height and are also light weight.
Thus, these are rather easily manageable.
It becomes easier to handle for the dentists who have to use this equipment all day long.
Hence, dentists may prefer to use this instead.
Torque and Speed
The speed and torque of the air-driven handpiece can serve as its disadvantage but it can also work in its favor.
The speed is higher but the torque is lower in comparison to that of na lectric one.
Hence, when the piece comes in direct contact with the tooth, it lowers the speed to 50,000-300,000 rpm and raises the resistance.
Sensitive Work Progress
The vibrating sensation and noise which can usually be a con can end up being a pro as well.
It enables the work progress to be more sensitive.
You can immediately hear the contact of the bur with the tooth.
Moreover, it improves work as it offers more accessibility.
Better User Experience
As handling the instrument is rather easier, it makes for better user experience.
It will reduce fatigue in the user who has to keep using it throughout the day.
It is Affordable
One of the reasons why still so many dentists may prefer to use it is because it is a rather affordable dental instrument.
It still has several disadvanategs over the electric handpiece though, its advantages hold value and can inform the dentists’ decision to choose between the two.
Disadvantages of an Electric Handpiece
Electrical handpieces usually have a large learning curve.
Since, the air-driven handpieces have been around for a while, many dentists may already be familiar with using that instead.
Thus, it may not be ideal for every dentist to start learning to use an instrument again.
Besides that, it can cause fatigue.
Since the electric motor is used to create the rotation movement of the bur.
This means that the handpiece weighs more than the air-driven one.
As it is heavier it can also pose a risk of increased pressure application on the tooth in the hands of a less experienced professional.
The vibrating sensation and the loud noise of an air-driven handpiece acts as a signal to kow when the pressure is too much.
Hence, there can be an increase in the handpiece’s pressure accidentally.
That said, the advantages of electric handpieces suggest that they may become one of the widely used instruments in the future.
Once more dentists are aware of using them and get a grasp of using it without getting fatigued, more people are likely to adapt to using the device.
Finally,
Coming down to which of these should you be using, well that entirely depends on your ease of use.
If you find using an air-driven handpiece easier because of its weight, affordability and the vibration plus noise then you can continue using that.
However, if you value speed and torque plus are sure of your abilities to handle an electric handpiece that is the best choice for you.
Look for what instruments will enable you to provide optimal treatment to your patients and go ahead with them.
The dentists’ as well as teh patient’s comfort is what makes a procedure successful.
Ensure that you use the the right equipment to facilitate that.
