Dental Handpieces and Accessories

A comprehensive set of flashcards focusing on vocabulary related to dental handpieces and their accessories.

Dental handpiece

The most frequently used instrument in restorative dentistry.

Low-speed handpiece

Designed for slower tasks ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 rotations per minute.

High-speed handpiece

Operates at speeds as high as 450,000 rpm, designed for rapid cutting.

Water coolant system

Keeps the bur cool to prevent damage to the tooth pulp during high-speed use.

Ultrasonic handpiece

Uses water and sound vibrations to remove calculus and debris from tooth surfaces.

Laser handpiece

Employs a laser light beam instead of rotary instruments for dental procedures.

Air abrasion handpiece

Delivers high-pressure aluminum oxide particles through a small probe for tooth preparation.

Dental burs

Rotary instruments with sharp cutting heads used for various dental procedures.

Straight attachment

An accessory that enables forward and backward movement for specific dental burs.

Contra-angle attachment

Facilitates intraoral access and adapts to tooth surfaces.

Prophylaxis angle attachment

Used during polishing procedures to hold cups and brushes.

Rotary instrument shank

The portion that fits into the handpiece.

Friction-grip locking system

Used to secure rotary instruments in high-speed handpieces.

Belt-driven handpiece

An early type of handpiece introduced in the 1940s.

Tungsten carbide

A material invented in the 1950s for making dental burs.

Diamond rotary instruments

Burs embedded with diamond flecks, used for cutting and polishing.

High-speed handpiece advantages

Faster procedures, efficient decay removal, more precise cutting.

Low-speed handpiece uses

Preparations for root canal treatment, polishing restorations, and finishing cavities.

Fiberoptic lighting

Illuminates the operative site from the head of the high-speed handpiece.

Abrasive rotary instruments

Used for polishing and smoothing with various abrasive materials.

Laboratory handpiece

Operates at lower speeds for heavier laboratory procedures.

Handpiece maintenance

Involves cleaning, lubrication, and sterilization to prolong instrument life.

Burs shapes

Different designs of burs, such as round, inverted cone, and tapered fissure.

Diamond burs usage

Most commonly used for crown preparations in restorative dentistry.

Prophy Angle

Another name for prophylaxis angle attachment for polishing.

Mandrel

Used to attach abrasive disks and wheels to dental handpieces.

Cauterizing soft tissue

A use of the laser handpiece that offers a painless alternative.

End-cutting bur

Bur shape used to create a shoulder for crown margin preparations.

Class I to VI preparations

Refers to the types of tooth preparations suitable for air abrasion.

Removing old fillings

A function of dental burs in restorative dentistry.

Excavating decay

The process of removing decayed tooth material using dental instruments.

Prophy polishing

Process to remove stains and polish teeth using a prophylaxis cup.

Lubrication recommendation

Essential for maintaining handpieces, prevents component wear.

Laboratory burs

Longer shank and larger head than standard dental burs.

Carbide burs

Burs made from tungsten carbide, known for their strength and durability.

Finishing bur

Similar to cutting burs but designed for polishing with more cutting surfaces.

Rotary cutting instruments

Instruments used in dentistry for cutting or shaping tooth structure.

Cutting efficiency reduction

Occurs with repeated use and sterilization of diamond burs.

Polishing instruments

Tools designed for providing a smooth, finished surface to dental materials.

Decay removal

One of the primary functions of both high-speed and low-speed handpieces.

Root planing

The removal of roughness from tooth roots, often done with ultrasonic handpieces.

Fabricating dentures

A process that involves laboratory handpieces for adjustments and polishing.

Plastic prophylaxis cups

Disposable items commonly used in polishing procedures.

Torque in handpieces

The turning force that determines how much material can be cut.

Electric dental instruments

Refers to ultrasonic and certain high-speed handpieces powered by electricity.

Mandrels for abrasives

Designed for compatibility with different shank types for ease of use.

Polishing crowns

A function typically performed using specific dental burs, especially finishing burs.

Operator visibility enhancement

Improved by the use of water spray during high-speed procedures.

Rotation per minute (rpm)

A measure of the speed of dental handpieces, critical in determining their function.

Types of burs

Including round, inverted cone, straight fissure, tapered fissure, and diamond.