Today we will talk about Dental Handpiece repair. Repairing the high speed drill involves replacing the bearings and the "O" rings on the turbine. A thorough cleaning is also required to eliminate corrosion caused by autoclaving.

After the back cap is removed and the turbine is removed from the head, the "O" rings are removed and the head and back cap are completely cleaned. If there are washers involved in the design of the handpiece they are removed and cleaned also.

The turbine is built with a chuck which is where you put in your burr. A chuck can be push button lever or friction. The chuck also acts as a shaft to mount the impeller and the bearings. The "O" rings are located in the head and back cap of the handpiece.

The impeller is mounted in the middle of the chuck. Location of the impeller is very important and requires close measurement to locate correctly. The bearings are located on each end of the impeller on the chuck. All of these pieces are pressed on with an arbor press.

After the assembly is complete the bearings must be lubricated with a bearing oil formulated specifically for high speed bearings. It is important to note that some bearings do not require lubrication. Ceramic bearings are one example. Talk to your service provider to discuss the best bearings for your Dental Handpiece Repair.

After this procedure is complete the rebuilt turbine is ready to reinstall back into the head of the handpiece that we just cleaned. Just push the turbine in place and screw the back cap back on the head. If the Dental Handpiece Repair is correct the handpiece will run like brand new.

On the subject of maintenance, two or three drops of oil should be placed in the air hole at the bottom of the handpiece. Perform this task according to manufacturer instructions. However in most cases lubrication should be after autoclaving. When you lube your handpiece be sure to run for thirty or forty seconds to make sure the bearings are completely lubricated and that all excess oil is expelled from the handpiece.

You may want to remember that you need to clean your handpiece before autoclaving to remove any organic material that might corrode your handpiece. Also don't forget the fiber optics as organic and other material can attach to the lens during autoclaving and reduce function. A soft bristle brush and warm water is all you need. It is not advised to use detergents or soaps as they can damage the optics. Soap can also get into the bearings and weaken the lubrication reducing the life of your Dental Handpiece Repair.