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Cleaning and lubricating the turbine handpiece

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The service life of dental handpieces directly depends on timely care of the handpieces. Regular lubrication of dental handpieces is one of its key aspects, which ensures their stable and reliable operation.

All types of dental handpieces require this important procedure. In this article, we will describe in detail how to clean and lubricate the turbine handpiece.

When and how to lubricate the turbine handpiece

Turbine handpieces operate at high speeds, which leads to greater heating and wear of the bearings. Therefore, they need to be lubricated more often than micromotor handpieces:

  • Before sterilization
  • After sterilization
  • During intensive work

Regular lubrication of the turbine handpiece reduces friction inside the rotor bearings, increases the service life of the handpiece and maintains stable operation at high speeds.

Pre-sterilization cleaning

Turbine-type handpieces are particularly sensitive to contamination by biological residues, so clean and lubricate the turbine handpiece before sterilization:

  1. Always wear goggles and gloves when servicing the handpiece. Clean the surface of the handpiece by wiping it with a cloth dampened with water or a special cleaning fluid.
  2. Do not soak or immerse your handpiece in water or a disinfectant fluid.
  3. Do not spray disinfectant onto the handpiece (this will not achieve sterilization and will significantly reduce the service life of the handpiece).
  4. After cleaning, wipe the handpiece dry.
  5. Insert a false bur or a regular bur into the handpiece.
  6. Introduce the cleaner or cleaning oil into the small hole in the handpiece by spraying for 2-3 seconds.
  7. Slowly rotate the bur between your fingers to distribute the cleaner well.
  8. Attach the handpiece to the unit, point the head of the handpiece at the white cloth (do not remove the bur) and press the foot pedal to turn the handpiece on. Keep the handpiece on until the cleaner stops coming out of it. Repeat steps 3,4,5 until the liquid coming out is completely clear.
  9. Remove the bur. Wipe the head of the handpiece with a damp cloth to remove any remaining cleaner.
  10. Sterilize the handpiece according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Post-sterilization treatment

After sterilization, the lubricant is partially washed out, which may affect the operation of the rotor, so:

  1. Wait until the handpiece reaches room temperature. (Skip the following steps 2-3 if you have an unlubricated handpiece.)
  2. Make sure the bur is securely fixed in the handpiece.
  3. Put 2-3 drops of oil into the smaller hole of the handpiece or spray oil for 2-3 seconds.
  4. Connect the handpiece to the unit (do not remove the bur) and press the foot pedal to turn on the handpiece. Keep the handpiece turned on for at least 40 seconds.
    (Perform the procedures described in points 3-4 over a tissue.)
  5. Remove any oil residue from the surface of the handpiece with a tissue.
  6. The handpiece is ready to use.

Which hole to lubricate the turbine tip in?

Maintenance of the button and collet (bur locking mechanism) of the push-button tip

This procedure is performed twice a week before pre-sterilization cleaning.

  1. Remove the bur from the tip.
  2. Apply 2-3 drops of oil or spray oil spray for 2-3 seconds inside the collet (the hole from which you removed the bur).
  3. Press and release the tip button (on the tip head). This will achieve high-quality lubrication and cleaning of the button mechanism. Repeat this procedure 5-6 times.
  4. Press and hold the tip button (to keep the collet open). Insert and remove the bur several times, thus cleaning the bur locking mechanism.
  5. Remove the bur and release the tip button.
  6. Blow the tip with a vacuum to remove any oil or cleaner residue.

Small nuances that will extend the life of your handpiece

Never:

  • Do not soak your handpiece in water and disinfectant solutions!
  • Do not use ultrasonic handpiece cleaners!
  • Do not sterilize your handpiece at temperatures above 135C!
  • Do not turn on, store or sterilize your handpiece without a bur!
  • Do not press the button if the bur is still rotating!
  • Do not use cold sterilization to disinfect the handpiece!
  • Do not throw the handpiece away!

Do you have any questions? MDS is ready to provide professional technical support advice through its dental equipment repair service center, so contact us if you have any problems.