Table of Contents
A dental handpiece repair and maintenance are important as the success of any procedure is primarily determined by the effectiveness and cleanliness of the instrument. Therefore, practitioners should know the basic maintenance steps which will help keep their tools running optimally. Dental handpieces require diligence when it comes to maintenance, if you want your instruments to function well and for long, be sure to follow the following steps.
Surface cleaning
According to guidelines stipulated by CDC(Center of Disease Control), you should keep water running for at least thirty seconds through the dental handpiece. This help remove germs and contaminants before they multiply. Clean the external surface too to get rid of debris and contaminants immediately.
Drying
Pathogens and germs thrive in a damp environment. Therefore, the next step should be drying the dental handpiece. Make sure there are no tiny drops of water left.
Lubrication
When lubricating the dental handpiece, pass the lubricant via the airline until it ejects at the head. Use pressurized air to force the lubricant through. This ensures all internal parts of the handpiece are well lubricated. Otherwise, the bearings will develop rust.
Run the Dental Handpiece
After ensuring all the components are lubricated, run the dental handpiece. The movement and vibration will aid in distributing the oil even in parts that the lubricant couldn’t access before. Additionally, excess lubricant is expelled preventing issues like coagulation during autoclaving procedure.
Clean the Fiber Optics 
The next step will be cleaning the fiber optics to prevent discoloration and accumulation of small debris or contaminants. This procedure requires you to have a little alcohol and Q-tip and you will be good to go.
Sterilization
To ensure your dental handpiece is a 100% safe, sterilize as per the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Once the Sterilization procedure is completed, be sure to dry the instrument completely.
Bagging
This is the final procedure which ensures your handpiece is free from dirt, germs or dust. Bagging keeps the dental handpiece safe and ready for future use. Purchase bags that are specifically designed for this purpose in order to maintain sterility.
Conclusion
There are seven steps in total. Each is typically important and should not be skipped when conducting a dental handpiece maintenance. Stick to the products manual to see what works best for that particular brand.
