Independent Guide: Air vs Electric handpiece

Finding the right dental handpiece can be challenging. With so many different options on the market, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed. One of the biggest questions of the day is whether you should follow the trend and hop on the electric handpiece bandwagon, or stick to your dental air-turbine handpiece system.

We have compiled a list of the main differences between the two systems, highlighting their comparative benefits and drawbacks, to shed some light on the issue. Hopefully, this article can be of some assistance to your decision-making process.

First of all, this review is absolutely independent – basically, no one is paying for the contents of this article, and the information provided here is guided only by what we believe is important when it comes to choosing your next dental tool.

We’ve done our best to make sure all the facts are accurate, but please do check them against other sources before making up your mind. If there’s anything wrong, let us know so we can correct it.

What is a dental handpiece?

If there’s a dental instrument that underscores the essence of general dentistry making a direct impact on dental health care, it has to be the handpiece. It is an ubiquitous piece of equipment in every dentist’s office, providing an essential link between the patient and the tools used during treatment.

A dental handpiece is used for drilling, cutting or grinding with various types of instruments such as drills, burs, files, scalers, polishers, etc. The handpiece also provides power to these instruments through electricity or air pressure.

A typical dental handpiece air or electric system consists of three main components: motor; turbine/shaft assembly; and chuck.

These are connected by flexible tubing which allows movement of the parts relative to each other while maintaining fluid-tight connections.

Handpieces can vary greatly depending on their intended use. For example, some handpieces have built-in motors whereas others require external motors. Some dental handpieces include a variety of accessories that may be attached to them including cutting burs and drill bits for drilling holes in bone during surgery.

Other accessories may include irrigation systems, light sources, etc. The design of these various components is driven largely by the type of procedure being performed with the instrument.

Types of dental handpiece

There are two main types: electric and air-powered. The former uses electricity to power its motor; the latter runs on compressed air. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Air-driven handpiece

The dental air-driven handpiece uses compressed air to drive its turbine motor, creating a cutting or rotary action. This provides power through a flexible hose connected to the unit.

Decades of clinical performance shows the air turbine handpiece to be efficient, reliable and trusted. Many top manufacturers have had a longer period to develop, innovate and adapt their products. All this translates to more durable and efficient products at more affordable prices.

They are more lightweight and typically feature a smaller head, hence are less burdensome to position and easier to handle. In many cases, dentists find them more comfortable to use with less fatigue.

While they may be compact in size, air-powered handpieces also have a lower torque and a tendency to slow down when friction is applied. Air powered handpieces also tend to be more expensive.

A dental air-driven handpiece system has less power but it does not require batteries for operation. It uses compressed gas which allows them to operate at higher speeds with greater precision. They do however need to be cleaned regularly because dust particles will accumulate on the turbine blades which could cause damage if left untreated.

Advantages of air-powered handpiece

Higher speeds: Air-driven high speed handpieces offer much higher speed, up to 400,00 rpm, as compared to electric devices at up to 200,000 rpm. Variable torques up to 2.33 N.mm and maximum power up to 29.6 watt have been recorded by some models.

Lightweight: Dentists looking for a fatigue-free working style may prefer the ergonomics and lightweight characteristics of the air-turbine handpiece.

More affordable: the spare parts are also less expensive as compared to their electric counterparts.

More control: An air-powered handpiece allows for greater control because they are more lightweight and small, and there is no need to worry about electrical current or voltage fluctuations. This allows dentists to use smaller diameter drills with less heat buildup. It also makes it easier to adjust speed settings on an air-powered drill.

No need for compressors: Compressors are used to provide the pressure needed to push out the air that powers the tool. However, this can cause problems such as overheating and clogging up the compressor’s filter system. With an air-powered handpiece, all you need is compressed air from your local gas station.

Easier to clean: Air powered tools don’t have any moving parts like a turbine motor does. Therefore they’re much simpler to maintain than their electric counterparts. They require little maintenance other than cleaning them after each use.

Reliable: If regularly maintained, air-driven units are known to be very reliable and versatile. They are also less susceptible to damage as caused by sterilisation.

Audio cues: Although they are noisier, some dentists prefer to ‘hear’ what they are cutting as this allows for a more aurally sensitive approach to treatment – you’d be surprised at how many dentists use their ears as a moderating instrument.

Easier getting used to: If you are new to electric handpieces, you may find them too sensitive and difficult to master. If you have been using air-turbine systems for a while, they tend to dictate a certain way of work that will need adjusting when switching over to electric.

Electric-powered handpieces

If you’re considering whether to upgrade your surgery to electric handpiece technology, it can involve a substantial investment given you will need to purchase one motor per operatory. Compared to air-driven units, electric handpieces also cost more due to the higher expense associated with incorporating the motor and controls.

It’s important that you choose an appropriate model for your needs as there are many different types available with varying features and capabilities. For example, some models come equipped with variable speed control whereas others do not. Some may be able to provide more power than others while still being compact enough to fit in the same space as manual units.

If you are currently using an air-driven system and it is still serving you well, then you may wish to reconsider upgrading as installing a new system comes with its fair share of issues and potential future hiccups. If price is not too prohibitive and you have a reliable supplier with a great installation team, then it’s certainly a viable option with long-term benefits

The type of motors used is another consideration when choosing between these two options. Most use brushless DC motors which offer greater efficiency but require regular maintenance. Brush-type AC motors can also be found on a few machines although they tend to have lower torque output.

Electric-powered handpieces come in two types: corded and cordless. Corded ones require a separate outlet for charging whereas cordless ones use rechargeable batteries.

Both options offer similar performance but there are some differences between them. For example, cordless units tend to be more expensive than corded models because they include additional components such as motors and electronics that make it easier to operate them. On the other hand, cordless units do not produce any noise when used properly unlike corded ones.

Advantages of electric handpieces

Less noise: Electric handpieces using brushless motors have no moving parts like those found on air driven instruments which makes them quieter than their counterparts. This is especially important if you work with children or animals who may find loud noises disturbing.

Consistent torque: The motor produces a consistent amount of power throughout its entire range of motion. In comparison, air-driven instruments can vary greatly depending upon how much pressure is applied by the operator. The high-speed handpiece models offer consistent torque with speeds up to 200,000 RPM.

More cutting power: Although an air-turbine handpiece is capable of producing greater speeds, its cutting speed slows down dramatically when the bur meets the material it’s cutting. The resistance produced by this friction can slow down the cutter by up to 40%.

Less vibration: The motor in an electric instrument does not vibrate at all so there are less vibrations transmitted through your hands to the patient’s tissues. In addition, this type of unit has a smaller diameter shaft making it possible for you to use larger tips without causing discomfort.

Flexibility in power settings: You can adjust the speed and torque of the drill by turning the dials on the control panel. If you need more power when drilling into bone, simply turn up the voltage setting until you reach the desired level. This is especially useful if the operator has arthritis that makes using high-speed drills difficult.

Conclusion

There are many aspects to ponder when making a decision about which type of handpiece to invest in. It is one that should be made based on your budget, work environment, and skillset.

Of course, there is a learning curve involved with electric handpieces that some dentists may feel uncertain about. Not to mention their handling and mechanical aspects with regards to the ‘feel’ and sensitivity of operation. The heavier set instrument also means it does take time getting used to.

Thankfully, some manufacturers like NSK are making it easier for those contemplating a switch to board the electric handpiece bandwagon.

Indeed the virtually noise-free operation would be a much welcomed feature for nervous or anxious patients, especially those hyper-sensitive to sounds, or are easily triggered by them.

In consideration of these factors, perhaps a good question to ask yourself is: Do the costs (in terms of the upgrade and learning curve) outweigh the benefits that patients could receive in terms of increased comfort?

It also wise to seek out other users on the Internet or approach a vendor to give you a hands-on trial just to get a feel of things. Maybe that would clarify any lingering doubts and make that decision easier to make.

The bottomline, it’s all about meeting your patient’s oral health care needs and investing in a maintenance-free handpiece turbine system (e.g. minimal need for costly precision handpiece repair) that will help you deliver many years of quality treatments.