Sterilizers & Autoclaves News

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Handpiece manufacturers have made great strides over the years in improving illumination, ergonomics, bearing technology, efficiency, and heat reduction, yet the changing demands of doctors and sterilization guidelines have kept manufacturers on their toes. Doctors and staff also have had to stay on top of changes in maintenance and sterilization protocol.

General practitioners are satisfied with the quality of handpieces on the market today. A large majority of these GPs are satisfied with their handpieces. Well over three-quarters of the respondents are indeed pleased with the quality of currently available handpieces Eighteen percent strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the quality, another 68% agreed, and just 15% either disagreed or strongly disagreed.

Another look indicates that most doctors believe their handpieces hold up well during sterilization and are comfortable to grip. But surveys reveal GPs’ concerns surrounding maintenance, repairs, and noise. About eight in 10 respondents were happy with the way their handpieces withstood sterilization, and nine in 10 were satisfied with the comfort of the grip for use during extended procedures. But more than one-third agree their handpieces require too much maintenance, 41% state they are in need of repair too often, and more than eight in 10 agree the noise generated by their handpieces is a concern

Maintenance and repairs

Proper maintenance of handpieces is critical, especially since many of them face a higher demand per procedure, are used for more procedures per week, and undergo more heat sterilization than in years past. Proper cleaning and oiling can go a long way in extending the life of a turbine.

As far as repairs are concerned, 38% of the doctors do none of the repairs in the practice, while another 33% do no more than one-quarter of their repairs in the practice. Self-repair kits that allow practices to place new bearings and O-rings themselves have become popular among dentists who choose not to send all of their handpieces off-site for service. Air pressure is another factor that can reduce the life of a turbine. Higher air pressure used by the doctor correlates to a shorter life for the turbine

Developments

While the basic design of dental handpieces has remained unchanged for decades, key enhancements like water spray, fiber optic lighting, swivels, and easy-to-use push-button bur releases have all made today’s handpieces more durable and more efficient. Advancements in technology have improved the performance and life of high-speed handpieces. Manufacturers have adjusted head size to accommodate tight areas.

Swivel systems, cellular optics, and improvements in push button chucking mechanisms, 6-pin connectors, quieter operation, and more durable turbines, ceramic bearings, anti-retraction valves, and better maintenance systems. Materials like titanium, also have improved and some design changes have been implemented solely to help turbines work longer.

Buying factors, plans

As with most purchases, price is the top factor when it comes to influencing a doctor’s handpiece selections. But right behind price is the reputation of the vendor. Type of bur changing mechanism was chosen by 57%, indicating that speed and ease of use are clearly important to doctors.

Sterilization protocol (39%) and warranty (37%) were next, while factors like recommendations from salespersons or colleagues, and ergonomic design were not quite as influential. Doctors are getting good life from their handpieces, are experiencing quick repair turnover, or they have a few extra handpieces in the practice

Sterilization

After the American Dental Association convened a special workshop in 1992, it was determined that handpieces-and all other instruments that enter the mouth-should be sterilized after each patient use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also published infection control recommendations in 1993.

An overwhelming majority of respondents (81%) use conventional autoclaves as the method to sterilize their handpieces (see “Handpiece sterilization” chart, page 22). Fourteen percent use conventional chemical vapor, and slightly more than one out of 10 use a unit designed specifically for dental handpieces

Types of handpieces used

The air-driven highspeed and lowspeed turbines that have been popular for years are still being used in just about every dental office. When asked what types of handpieces they have in their practice, 98% of the GPs said highspeed air turbine and 95% said lowspeed air turbine.

Electric handpieces, meanwhile, have garnered some adamant fans recently, and more companies in the United States have begun to offer them. They boast better torque, quieter operation, and improved durability when compared to air-driven turbines. Drawbacks to electric include a heavier weight and a larger head size than standard air-driven highspeeds.

The FirstHealth Dental Care Center in Southern Pines, established in 1998, to provide care to low-income children up to age 18. It serves a target population of nearly 18,000 children in Moore, Montgomery and Hoke counties who are medically indigent or are on public assistance. In Moore County, 7,800 children qualify as medically indigent.

FirstHealth of the Carolinas is a private, nonprofit health-care network headquartered in Pinehurst, serving 15 counties in the central Carolinas. The Southern Pines facility is one of three full-time centers in Troy and Refold serve medically indigent children.

The center has served more than 12,000 children since opening the first office in Southern Pines in October 1998. The fifty five percent of patients are between the ages of 6 and 12, twenty five percent are between birth and age 5, thirteen percent are between 13 and 15 and seven percent are between 16 and 18. Forty-four percent of the patients are black, 36 percent white, 13 percent are Hispanic, 4 percent are Native-American and 1 percent are Asian or other

State House Speaker Pro Tem Richard Morgan recently announced a $177,300 grant to improve the quality of dental care in Moore County for disadvantaged children. The grant is intended to increase by fifty percent the number of patients who can visit the Southern Pines facility each year.

The grant from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services will meet needs at the Southern Pines facility. Since their inception, the Dental Care Centers have served over 11,000 patients.

Morgan thanked FirstHealth’s strong community partnerships and hard-working dental professionals such as Dr. Sharon Nicholson Harrell, Moore County is providing care to the kids who need it most in the Sand hills. Since target audience exceeds the current facilities, this grant will greatly increase the number of children who can be served by the Southern Pines facility.

Dr. Harrell, director of FirstHealth Dental Care Centers, expressed his views saying that he was very much excited to expand the Southern Pines clinic and purchase the new equipment, This grant will allow us to serve even more disadvantaged children in this area and allow for a high use of technology. He also said that he truly appreciates Speaker Pro Tem Morgan’s generosity and understanding the importance of dental health in our children.

About $164,300 of the grant will be dedicated to the expansion of the Southern Pines facility to add two additional treatment rooms and a consultation room to allow medical staff to meet with parents and patients to discuss treatment. The remainder of the money will purchase dental equipment, including a Prophy Jet Cavitron Combo Machine, a Statim Sterilizer and three Slow Speed Handpieces.

The FirstHealth medical services include three hospitals, a skilled nursing facility, centers for inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, a hospice program, community outreach programs, centers for health and fitness, primary care practices, EMS and critical care transport services, a non-profit HMO, a philanthropic foundation and a host of other services.