Handpiece care: tips that make your turbine last

The high-speed handpiece (turbine) is one of the most used tools in the clinic, and most of its faults come from skipped daily care. Here is a summary of the advice our technical team shared:

• Run the handpiece with water for 20–30 seconds after every patient to flush the water and air lines.
• Clean the outside, then lubricate it with the dedicated spray before every sterilization, unless the manufacturer says it needs no lubrication.
• Sterilize it in an autoclave, and never soak it in chemical solutions or put it in an ultrasonic cleaner.
• Never run the turbine without a bur in place: it damages the chuck.
• Keep to the air pressure the manufacturer recommends (usually 2–3 bar); too much pressure wears out the bearings faster.

Unusual noise, vibration or a drop in speed are early signs that the handpiece needs servicing before the fault gets worse.