Hygiene Handpieces: Promoting Dental Patient Health

It’s difficult to imagine providing good oral healthcare without reliable, effective, and versatile dental hygiene handpieces. Over time, the repetitive nature of the hygienist’s work can take its toll, so it’s important to choose tools that are safe for long-term use. 

The tools a hygienist uses—especially handpieces—play a major role in helping them work efficiently, allowing for excellent patient care while preventing operator injury.

In this article, we’ll explore the importance of choosing the right hygiene handpiece for your practice, whether you’re setting up a new hygiene room or upgrading your current tools. 

We will discuss the important considerations when comparing tools and examine some of the features of currently available handpieces.

 

The Importance of Hygiene Handpieces in the Dental Practice

Selecting the right handpiece is crucial for effective dental care, as it significantly impacts both patient comfort and the long-term well-being of the hygienist. The ease of sterilization and level of angle compatibility can help the whole dental practice run more efficiently. 

A well-designed, lightweight, and ergonomic handpiece maximizes cleaning potential while minimizing discomfort for the operator. 

For dental hygienists who work with their hands all day long, fatigue and repetitive stress can add up to pain, medical procedures, and lost productivity over time. Using ergonomically appropriate tools can make a huge difference over the long term.      

There are several considerations to keep in mind when weighing the options available in new handpieces. Here are some important questions to ask when evaluating new handpieces:

• How long will I use this handpiece in a typical workday?
• Will I be working in one hygiene room all day, or bringing my handpiece with me to different rooms?
• How easy is it to disinfect this handpiece? Will I need to unthread the coupler, or simply snap off the handpiece itself?
• What are the maintenance requirements for this handpiece? Does it require lubrication?
• How likely is this handpiece to contribute to wrist fatigue and repetitive injuries over time?
• Will I be limited in the brand(s) of prophy angle I can attach to this handpiece?
• What are the most important priorities for me to seek in a new handpiece  (maneuverability, lightweight design, power control levels, ease of maintenance)?

Dental Hygiene Scalers 

Scalers are used to remove tartar (calculus) from around and between the teeth, as well as just below the gum line. Hygienists use either traditional hand scalers or air-driven sonic devices. 

Air-driven handpieces are available in swivel designs—providing improved maneuverability, or fixed end designs.

Key Considerations

When selecting a scaler for dental hygiene, several important factors come into play. Ergonomics is crucial; a well-balanced and lightweight design can significantly reduce hand and wrist fatigue. 

The type of scaler used—be it ultrasonic or traditional—can impact cleaning efficiency and patient comfort. Additionally, consider the scaler’s compatibility with various tips for different scaling needs, as well as its ease of sanitation, which impacts dental practice efficiency. 

Finally, assessing the scaler’s power settings, vibration frequency, and user-friendly features, such as grip and controls, will enhance both the hygienist’s experience and the quality of care provided to patients.

 

Air-driven Scalers: Titan® Blis-sonic™ Scaler

The Star Titan Blis-sonic scaler uses 5500 to 6400 Hz vibrations to effectively remove hard calculus deposits from teeth and along the gumline. 

Made from lightweight anodized aluminum, the Titan Blis-sonic features interchangeable color-coded silicone grips and comes with either a 360° swivel or a fixed back end. The Blis-sonic includes five different scaling tips and is fully autoclavable for easy sterilization.

The swivel model allows for improved maneuverability and ease of sterilization, allowing the operator to simply snap the handpiece off the coupler for cleaning and sterilization, rather than needing to unthread the coupler.

Prophy Handpieces

In a dental hygiene appointment, polishing is done with a prophy angle, a tool attached to either a corded air-driven handpiece or a cordless handpiece. 

It has a flexible cup at the tip that spins to apply prophy paste, which removes stains and smooths the enamel.

Key Considerations

When choosing a prophy handpiece, core criteria include ergonomics, power options, and ease of sterilization and maintenance. A lightweight, well-balanced handpiece can reduce strain on the hygienist’s hand and wrist, especially during repetitive polishing procedures. 

You’ll need to decide between air-driven or cordless models, with cordless tools offering greater freedom of movement and eliminating cord drag over the hand. Speed control is another important factor, allowing for adjustable RPMs to suit different polishing needs. 

Additionally, look for handpieces that are compatible with a wide range of disposable prophy angles and have low maintenance requirements and simple sterilization protocols. 

An important part of the purchasing decision is the choice between a traditional corded or a newer cordless option. 

Cordless, battery-operated dental hygiene tools are a newer alternative to traditional air-driven models and are quickly becoming the preferred choice for oral care procedures. With a lighter, more maneuverable design, they provide flexibility and lower potential for long-term operator fatigue. Cordless prophylaxis handpieces eliminate the drag caused by air hoses, helping to reduce strain on the user’s hand and wrist. 

For more information on the benefits of switching to cordless prophy handpieces, check out this article from RDH Magazine.

The Star® line from DENTALEZ® offers great choices in both corded and cordless prophy handpieces.

 

Air-driven Prophy Handpieces: Prophy Star 3 Handpieces 

The Prophy Star 3 line includes lightweight, air-driven handpieces designed for a comfortable and efficient hygiene experience. 

Made from lightweight anodized aluminum, they are available in swivel and fixed back-end configurations. All models include interchangeable color-coded silicone grips. 

Prophy Star 3 handpieces are compatible with standard disposable prophy angles and are capable of speeds up to 5,000 RPM controlled by the rheostat foot pedal. Their lubrication-free design simplifies maintenance, and the handpieces are fully autoclavable for easy disinfection. 

The swivel model enhances maneuverability and simplifies sterilization, enabling the hygienist to snap off the handpiece for the autoclave, without the need to unthread the coupler. These handpieces come with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty. 

 

Cordless Prophy Handpieces: iStar Cordless Prophylaxis Handpieces

The iStar Cordless Prophy handpiece from DENTALEZ simplifies the work of polishing. It features a lightweight design, reducing the potential for hygienist hand fatigue and wrist strain. 

The handpiece features a sealed exterior with custom disposable barriers for easy disinfection. It is compatible with most disposable prophy angles. The fingertip control provides adjustable speeds ranging from 500-2500 RPM. The iStar Cordless Prophy handpiece comes with a one-year warranty, and a three-year battery warranty.

When considering a change from corded to cordless prophy handpieces, hygienists are often concerned about power. 

The iStar handpiece is powerful and does not hesitate when pushed against a tooth. With no need for a foot pedal, the operator sets the preferred power level directly on the handpiece fingertip switch.  

Additionally, the iStar cordless prophy handpiece eliminates the hassle of autoclaving small parts, as there are no detachable pieces that require sterilization between patients. 

You can simply wipe the handpiece and apply a protective barrier, making it convenient to move on to the next patient. This sets it apart from other cordless models that require multiple parts to be autoclaved, leading to lost time and the risk of losing small components.

 

Making the Right Choice in Hygiene Handpieces for Your Practice

Upgrading hygiene handpieces is a significant decision that affects both the quality of care you provide to patients, and the long-term comfort of dental professionals. 

With so many options available, it’s important to consider factors like ergonomic design, ease of use, compatibility, and the health benefits for both the hygienist and the patient. 

When deciding to change your hygiene handpieces, testing out different options is a great way to see what works best for your practice. 

Contact a DSX sales representative to learn more about the Star line of hygiene handpieces and explore how a new handpiece can enhance both your comfort and your patients’ experience.