The decision to transition from air-driven handpieces to electric offers many advantages for a dental practice including improved patient and practitioner safety, enhanced ergonomics, and more streamlined and efficient procedures.

But how challenging is it to make the transition? What’s involved with swapping out your old equipment and integrating new technology? It turns out to be much easier than you might expect.

How to Learn About Electric Dental Handpieces in the Comfort of Your Own Practice

Your initial step should involve a firsthand exploration of electric dental handpieces. This is ideally conducted at your own practice. Reputable manufacturers and dental suppliers frequently extend a complimentary in-office demonstration or trial period. Dental sales representatives have extensive knowledge and experience in the use of all types of dental handpieces. They can get you started in the use of electric dental handpiece and can provide most of the guidance you need to get started.

Installing Bien-Air Electric Dental Handpieces Takes About Five to Ten Minutes

The transition to Bien-Air electric handpieces involves a simple, straightforward installation process. You’ll be ready in about five to ten minutes. Just connect Bien-Air’s control box to power, connect your high-speed hose, and connect the new micromotor and your electric handpiece of choice. The compact control box takes up very little space, and it even integrates with your existing rheostat.

Start by Converting just One Operatory to Electric Dental Handpieces.

If you’re new to electric handpieces, Bien-Air recommends that dental practitioners start by converting just one operatory to electric. This room will soon evolve into the favored choice for your team as they experience the advantages of electric handpieces, from reduced noise to easier cleanup to faster, more efficient procedures. You’ll find yourself reserving this room for more intricate cases, as a single electric handpiece outperforms the multiple air-driven handpieces previously required. Before long, you’ll be ready to upgrade your other operatories as well.

Do Procedures Change When Using Electric Dental Handpieces?

Transitioning to electric dental handpieces is like moving from a gas-powered car to an electric car. While certain aspects may feel distinct, the fundamental essence remains unchanged — it’s still a car. Similarly, an electric dental handpiece remains fundamentally a handpiece.

Unlike their air-driven counterparts, however, electric handpieces exhibit an absence of deceleration, stalling, or halting when the bur contacts tooth structure or restorative materials. The cutting process is propelled by unwavering torque and speed. Moreover, electric handpieces ensure concentricity of the rotating bur during tooth preparation, substantially reducing any undesirable “wobble” compared to air-driven alternatives. This yields finer margins, curtailed heat accumulation, and minimized bur chatter, culminating in a cleaner cut.1,3

With Electric Dental Handpieces, Intermediate-Speed Dentistry is Now Available

The introduction of electric dental handpieces allows an escape from the limitations of high- and slow-speed alternatives. In contrast to air-driven counterparts with fixed speeds and regulated power, electrics empower the dentist with the flexibility to operate at a full range of high, slow, and intermediate speeds. This enhanced speed control opens up a single handpiece to such varied tasks as refining and sculpting anterior aesthetic restorations, mitigating the buildup of build-up materials, executing procedures in proximity to the pulp, and facilitating the preparation of bonded post spaces.2

What Type of Burs are Used with Electric Handpieces?

Continuity is excellent for users who prefer to work with their existing burs. However, you may wish to experiment with different burs to optimize efficiency. For example, coupling a more assertive bur with reduced speed settings might allow you to use minimal force for maximal effect.

What Does Your Dental Assistant Need to Know about Electric Handpiece Maintenance?

The procedures for cleaning, sterilization, and maintenance of electric dental handpieces mirror that of their air-driven counterparts. 4 Notably, when opting for a Bien-Air electric dental handpiece that incorporates the proprietary Smart Logic technology, a single handpiece attachment fulfills the functions of both high-speed and slow-speed products within the practice. This not only streamlines inventory management, but also lessens the number of handpieces needing cleaning, sterilization, and maintenance. Additionally, Bien-Air handpieces feature anti-retraction valves and sealed head mechanisms, considered a higher standard for today’s infection control practices.

What Else Does Your Team Need to Know about Switching from Air-driven to Electric Dental Handpieces?

The advantages that electric dental handpieces bring to the dental practice and the patient experience will be obvious to your team. But you should demonstrate for them the quieter operation and the exceptional levels of speed and efficiency that define electrics, and also emphasize the diminished exposure to pathogens for the team due to reduced aerosol production. Bien-Air electric dental handpieces all feature anti-retraction valves and sealed heads to enhance infection control and patient safety.

You will want to encourage the scheduling of more demanding procedures in the operatory equipped with electrics, as these procedures will be executed with heightened efficiency, resulting in time savings and enhanced practice productivity.

How Long Does It Take to Become Proficient in the Use of Electric Dental Handpieces?

For the majority of dentists, the transition from air-driven to electrics is quick and easy. But as with any new skill, practice makes perfect. Embracing electric handpieces represents a commitment to ongoing learning, which will soon prove its worth through heightened efficiency and enhanced professional satisfaction. The Bien-Air website has a number of instructive resources including webinars and dental CE courses to help dentists in their transition.

Request a Demo

Converting your practice from air-driven dental handpieces to electric handpieces is easier than many dentists expect. Electric dental handpieces are the future of dentistry and a game-changer in performance and capabilities for the dentist. The benefits that await are undeniably electrifying! Request a demo in your practice today.

Bien-Air handpieces can be sourced from leading dental suppliers. Arrange an in-practice demonstration of Bien-Air electric dental handpieces by clicking the link below.

1. In Praise of Electric Handpieces, Elliot Mechanic, BSc, DDS, Chairside Magazine, Glidewell, Volume 7, Issue 1 https://glidewelldental.com/education/chairside-magazine/volume-7-issue-1/clinical-techniques-in-praise-of-electric-handpieces

2. Practicing Intermediate Speed Dentistry, online dental CE presented by John Flucke, DDS via Viva Learning https://vivalearning.com/member/classroom.asp?x_classID=4321

3. Ask Dr. Christensen: What are the best techniques for electric dental handpieces? By Gordon J. Christensen DDS, PhD, MSD https://www.dentaleconomics.com/science-tech/article/16389573/ask-dr-christensen-what-are-the-best-techniques-for-electric-dental-handpieces

4. Electric Dental Handpieces: Protecting your Investment, Dental Economics article by Glenn Williams https://www.dentistryiq.com/dentistry/products/handpieces-burs-and-polishers/article/14039504/electric-handpieces-protecting-your-investment-part-2