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Dental lab lathe
Also called: polishing lathe, lab motor, bench lathe
A bench motor with spinning wheels for polishing dentures and appliances.
A lab lathe spins rag wheels, brushes or stones at high speed to polish dentures, night guards and other appliances, usually with pumice (a gritty polishing powder) in a pan. Appliances that have been in a mouth bring germs to the lathe.
How to spot it
- A motor with a shaft sticking out on one or both sides, a splash shield and a pan for pumice.
What it is used for
- Polish appliances after they are cleaned and disinfected.
Safety and care
- Wear eye protection and a mask; tie back hair and keep sleeves away from the spindle.
- Use fresh pumice and a heat-sterilized or single-use rag wheel for each patient's appliance; clean and disinfect the lathe between patients.
Related
Sources: CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)