Dental Handpiece: Where We Started and How Far We Have Come

Handpieces are among the most commonly used mechanical devices in dentistry. No longer the primitive cutting tools introduced in the 1800s, handpieces are now highly efficient and sophisticated after a slow evolutionary process with incremental changes. Traditional handpieces are either air-driven or electrically driven.

In 1871, the first commercial foot-treadle dental engine, or drill, was manufactured after James B. Morrison received the patent.1 About 50 years ago, dentists used belt-driven (belt and pulley) handpieces to cut teeth. At first, only straight handpieces were available, proving to be slow and laborious for the dentist and uncomfortable for the patient.

In the late 1940s, John Patrick Walsh of New Zealand introduced a high-speed air-driven handpiece. In the 1950s, John Borden introduced in the United States the Borden handpiece, or Airotor, which incorporated a contra-angle design.

The other traditional kind of handpiece is electrically driven, with the first model patented in the 1870s. These early devices were heavy and bulky, producing poor ergonomics for the clinician.

Handpieces have evolved with the practice of dentistry and dental technology. High-speed electric handpieces now have a speed of 200,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), while high-speed air-driven devices function at up to 400,000 rpm and usually operate within 180,000 rpm to 330,000 rpm.

Often, head sizes have been reduced to provide better visibility and access. Fiber-optic lighting was first integrated into handpieces in the 1970s and has dramatically improved the dentist's ability to see the work area. Turbine cartridges have been steadily improved to enhance longevity and reduce noise. New bearing configurations and materials have been developed. Innovative materials have made it possible to repeatedly sterilize the handpiece without degradation in looks or performance. Chucking mechanisms have been improved with pushbutton releases to facilitate insertion and removal of the rotary instrument. Ergonomic improvements have made handpieces more comfortable and less tiring for the dentist. Ergonomically, the handpiece (Click here to buy coxo dental handpiece online) should help with seeing the working area; offer a head size and length that maximizes access and visibility at the location; provide a weight, configuration, and grip that is comfortable for the dentist and minimizes his or her fatigue; create low noise; and produce no vibration (which also avoids hand—arm vibration syndrome in the clinician).

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