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Low-speed (slow-speed) handpiece and motor
Also called: slow-speed, low-speed motor, air motor, electric motor
A motor that runs at lower speed and drives contra-angle, straight or prophy attachments.
The low-speed handpiece is a motor (air or electric) that you click attachments onto. Air motors top out around 25,000 rpm; many electric motors run faster. It is used for slower jobs: removing soft decay, finishing, polishing, adjusting and prophy work.
How to spot it
- A straight cylinder that connects to the hose; attachments click onto its nose.
- Has no small turbine head of its own.
What it is used for
- Drives the contra-angle, straight handpiece or prophy angle.
- Common in hygiene (polishing) and restorative (finishing) work.
Safety and care
- Semicritical item (it touches the inside of the mouth): clean it, package it and heat-sterilize it after every patient.
- Motors and attachments are heat-sterilized between patients when the maker allows; follow the instructions for each part.
Related
Sources: W&H Dentalwerk. Reports and studies: handpiece types and speeds, CDC. Statement on Reprocessing Dental Handpieces, CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)