Keeping informed about the latest technology is beneficial for any business, so if you're a dentist you'll likely want to keep up on dental drills and handpieces news and trends. Whether you've been in practice for years or are planning on opening your own dental office, keeping up with the latest in dentist tools will benefit both you and your patients.

From the newest dental handpiece to the most innovative dental drill bits, you'll be able to provide the best service to your patients using dental drills and handpieces equipped with the most modern technological advances. Ergonomic design, easy accessibility to molars and lightweight construction are just a few of the most recent dental drills and handpieces news and trends. Depend on the following resources to stay updated about dental drills and handpieces:

1. Look at the latest offerings by top manufacturers of dental drills and handpieces.

2. Get the most recent news on advances in dental drills and handpieces from dental publications.

3. Turn to reviews on dental drills and handpieces.

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Rely on familiar manufacturers for innovations in dental drills and handpieces

Whether shopping for cars, computers or dental equipment, most consumers tend to look at what leading manufacturers are offering to get an idea about trends in a particular industry. Dental manufacturing has its key players, and keeping up with the latest products these companies are putting on the market will tune you into dental drills and handpieces news and trends.

I recommend: Read about the latest highspeed handpiece offered by KaVo, with its improved angle, cooling system and extended warranty, at Woman Dentist eJournal, an online publicaton of PennWell Dental Group. Pennwell also publishes RDH Magazine, where you'll find an article about the new technology of leading dental manufacturer A-dec's Synea highspeed handpieces, introduced in 2007.

Read about recent and upcoming advances in dental handpieces

For sneak peeks and up-to-the-minute information about developments in dental drills and handpieces, look to online dental publications. From news released from the American Dental Association to publications geared solely toward specific dentist tools, you'll be able to keep abreast of dental drills and handpieces news and trends.

I recommend: Read all the recent headlines about dental handpieces, from new parts to updated dental drill repair information, at Handpiece Experts. Subscribe to the Journal of the American Dental Association and get the Professional Product Review, an accompanying publication offering reviews of dental products from a panel of dentists, with the July 2008 issue featuring handpiece reviews. Go to E-Dental.com to read about new brushless highspeed handpieces.

Listen to what other dentists and experts are saying about the newest dental drills and handpieces

A great way to get an idea about trends in dental drills and handpieces is to see what others are saying about the most recent offerings of these products. Find out from dentists and other professionals in the field whether or not these dentist drills and handpieces are living up to expectations and how they might be benefiting dental practices.

I recommend: Read a dentist's review of the DentalEze NuTorque programmable electric handpiece system with memory presets, touch-screen and various attachments, at Dental News and Technology Blog. Get details about features and helpful reviews of several types of new electric dental handpieces, at Dental Economics. Dental Product Shopper provides an in-depth review of the new TwinPower Turbine dental handpiece.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When making a drill purchase, keep in mind that laser dental drills have been replacing conventional dentist drills for the past several years.

Whether drilling a single cavity or performing a root canal, dental drills and handpieces are essential dentist tools. Depending on the type of procedures you routinely perform, you need to have not only the right handpiece, but one you're comfortable using.

As with so many other types of dental equipment, you can choose from various cutting-edge technological features when it comes to dental drills and handpieces. From built-in lighting to self-cooling abilities, modern handpieces are sophisticated dental tools. When it comes to dental drill equipment, be sure to:

1. Pick from a wide array of different types of dental drills.

2. Select needed accessories for your dental drills and handpieces.

3. Consider used dental drills and handpieces to keep costs down.

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Pick the best dentistry drills for the job at hand

Several handpiece manufacturers offer high-quality dentist tools to suit doctors in every field of dentistry. When choosing dental drills, it all comes down to the task at hand as well as doctor preference. You might want a lightweight handpiece offering comfort and ease of use, or you might require a high-speed turbine for more extensive drilling.

I recommend: A-dec offers two kinds of lightweight, quiet, efficient high-speed handpieces to suit both your budget and your procedural needs. KaVo features several types of handpieces that vary in the level of torque, speed and cooling abilities for use in a variety of dental procedures (they even offer models with a built-in light). DentalEZ Group offers the innovative Star line of low- and highspeed handpieces and burs.

Get accessories to rev up your dental handpiece

Your dental handpiece is a versatile instrument, if you have the proper accessories. You can drill, cut and even use fiber optics with your handpiece. In addition, you need to keep a stock of replaceable parts like dental drill bits, o-rings and gaskets.

I recommend: Check out dental product suppliers for a wide range of dental handpiece accessories. MTI Dental Products carries several handpiece tips, as well as a lubricating kit. Palisades Dental LLC offers a long list of handpiece attachments and tips, including quick-disconnect fiber optics and many types of burs and fissures to perform all your dental procedures.

Consider used dental handpieces and drills

As with any piece of equipment, dental handpiece and drill prices vary. If your budget precludes the purchase of new dental handpieces and drills, purchase used handpieces and drills at a fraction of the cost.

I recommend: Shop around when it comes to used dentist drills and handpieces. Handpiece Solutions has a wide inventory of used handpieces from leading handpiece manufacturers such as Star, Midwest and KaVo. New England Handpiece Repair, Inc. also sells many pre-owned low- and high-speed brand name handpieces.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Visit a local dental equipment dealer such as Patterson Dental or Henry Schein Dental and ask for a demonstration of the dental drills and handpieces they sell. Get a feel for which handpieces are most comfortable and which features you like best.

Dental drills and handpieces are the fundamental tools of dentistry. To establish and run a successful dental practice, you need to fully grasp dental handpiece applications, know how to properly maintain dental drills and keep up-to-date on dental drills and handpieces education and training.

Manufacturers of dental handpiece parts and drills for dentists often offer tips on the proper usage of the dental drill equipment. This information, coupled with a solid education in dentistry and hands-on experience with dental handpieces, can reinforce you dental drills and handpieces expertise. When you consider dental drill and dental handpiece education and training, you should:

1. Focus on educational courses that offer courses on proper dental drill operation and dental drill repair.

2. Sign up for conferences and seminars that highlight the latest trends in dental drills and handpieces.

3. Consider an internship in a dental office for hands-on training with dentist drills and dentist tools.

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Enroll in courses that focus on how to use dental drills and dental handpiece repair

General dentistry courses offer background on how to properly use and maintain dentistry drills and dental handpiece tools. Take classes on how to repair your dentist tools as a cost-effective alternative to professional dental drill repair shops.

I recommend: The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry has a state-of-the-art simulation clinic. Students can practice the effective use of dental drills and handpieces on virtual patients. Take general dentistry courses at Tufts University for a solid background in dental drills and handpieces. Orion Repair offers training courses that focus on dental drill repair.

Attend conferences and seminars on dental drilling

Conferences and seminars that focus on dentist tools offer up-to-date information on the latest dental drills and tools available for your dental practice. Take advantage of dentist drill demonstrations and networking opportunities.

I recommend: Attend the Chesapeake Dental Conference to experience the latest in dental drills and handpieces and to network with other dental professionals. Dentists new to the profession should attend the American Dental Association's New Dentist Conference. Seminars on the latest in dentist tools are offered to attendees.

Intern with a professional for hands-on dental drills and handpieces education and training

Dental internships offer the hands-on training experience that is the capstone to a well-rounded education in dentistry. Learn how to safely and effectively use dental drills in a dental office setting and how to work with patients.

I recommend: Apply for an internship at UC Davis to gain hands-on experience with dental drills and handpieces. Intern at the Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility to gain valuable on-site training with dental drills and dentist handpiece products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join the American Dental Association to benefit from members-only discussions and seminars.

There are many types of dental drills and handpieces used for specialized applications in the dental industry. From high speed and low speed drills to fiber optic handpieces, you need to know the types, styles and applications of dental tools to make the right choice for your needs.

Whether you are a dental practitioner or a supplier of dental drills and handpieces, familiarize yourself with these dental drills and handpieces key terms for an overall understanding of the most up-to-date dental tools available.

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Low-speed handpieces

Low-speed handpieces are straight, air-driven dental tools that have a lower RPM and use attachments for different applications. Low-speed handpieces are generally used for detailed procedures.

I recommend: Visit The Handpiece Surgeon for examples and pictures of low-speed handpieces and descriptions of how each handpiece works.

High-speed handpieces

High-speed dental handpieces are air-driven tools that have a higher RPM and are used to prepare a tooth for restoration such as a filling. High-speed dental handpieces have various attachments used for specific tasks.

I recommend: Integrated Publishing offers extensive information on high-speed dental handpieces.

Dental bur

A dental bur is the drill bit which is inserted into a hand piece, used for drilling in the event of a cavity.

I recommend: Dental Burs USA has a large selection of dental burs and a description of their uses.

Sickle probe or sickle scaler

A sickle probe, also referred to as a sickle scaler, is a dental handpiece with a sharp, curved end used to check teeth for cavities and to remove plaque from the surface of teeth.

I recommend: The Free Dictionary offers detailed information on the sickle probe and an illustration of a sickle scaler.

Periodontal probe

A periodontal probe is a numbered instrument used by dentists and hygienists to measure the pocket depth of each tooth. The probe has a blunt end to protect delicate gums from puncture marks.

I recommend: Healthline.com offers extensive information on the types and styles of periodontal probes available and how the probes are used in the field of dentistry.

Dental mirror

A dental mirror is a handpiece used to inspect all areas of the surface of teeth for cavities. Mounted on a curved end of a probe, the mirror allows the dental professional to view hard-to-see areas of the mouth for optimal inspection

I recommend: Homedental.com offers more information on dental mirror types, styles and uses.