Evolution and mechanism of dental handpieces- An overview

The dental handpiece is a sophisticated combination of precision parts moving in perfect synchronization at extremely high speed. The handpiece is a device that requires diligent maintenance protocol to keep it running properly and safely. Handpiece delivers a smooth powerful cut that allows the clinician to remove tooth structure in an efficient manner with little discomfort in contrast to earlier days which was done with hand cutting instruments and electric belt driven instruments with top rotational speeds of 50000 rpm. The leap from belt driven to air driven hand piece was a major breakthrough because it overcame slow speed, time spent on tooth preparation, pressure and vibration of belt driven handpieces. The selection of an appropriate handpiece and appropriate burs is the key for safe and effective removal of dental hard tissues and caries in an efficient manner. The overall goal of this article is to provide information on the evolution, internal parts, mechanism of belt and air driven handpieces and classification of air driven handpieces.