Clean handpiece exterior shell with soapy water to remove any residue and also prevent residue build up on the handpiece shell. Rinse off soap before sterilisation.
Never submerge handpieces in cleaner/solvent or place in an ultrasonic tank.
Lubricate & Purge handpieces to remove any debris from inside handpiece head.
Remove bur from handpiece.
Never sterilise with bur in place.
When sterilisation complete, remove handpieces and allow to cool.
Never leave handpieces in the steriliser overnight.
After Sterilisation:
Allow handpieces to cool to room temperature.
Never cool down handpieces under cold water. Rapid cooling can result in thermal shock to turbine components resulting in possible turbine/bearing failure.
Lubricate handpieces as per manufacturer specification.
Purge any excess lubricant from handpiece.
Store handpieces standing upright when not in use. Avoid storing handpieces sitting head down.
Equipment/Handpiece Checks:
Regularly check air/water filters. Debris from air lines can cause damage to handpiece turbine/bearings. Recommend quarterly checks.
Check sterilisation temperature. 275 °F/135 °C
Weekly flushing of turbine chuck will help to prevent debris build up within the chuck mechanism. Debris build up can cause bur retention problems and lead to possible turbine failure.
Regularly check handpiece air pressure and adjust in accordance to manufacturer specification.
Never run the handpiece without a bur in place.
Want to read even more maintenance tips? Check out our article published in Irish Dentist magazine here.
