Let's talk dental handpiece lubricants!
Just like your car needs an oil change, your dental handpiece needs a little TLC in order to stay on top of its game. A drop of the right lubricant here and there, and you can say goodbye to excessive noise and vibration and hello to a longer lifespan for your handpiece.
So don't be stingy with the lubricant—give your handpiece the attention it deserves and save yourself from costly repairs and replacements!
Lubricants serve to reduce friction and wear on the various moving parts within your high or slow speed dental handpiece, such as the bearings, gears, and air turbine. This keeps your handpiece running smoothly and efficiently.
Lubricating your handpiece also helps to repel dirt and debris, as well as inhibit corrosion, so your handpiece suffers less wear and tear.
Some of the main components that need lubrication include:
The cost of handpiece repairs and replacements add up quickly, so investing in preventative maintenance, including regular lubrication, pays off in the long run!
Remember: each dental handpiece is unique and may have different lubrication specifications from the manufacturer. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions to ensure that your dental handpiece is lubricated properly.
The following are some of the most common signs that a dental handpiece needs to be lubricated:
Keep an eye out for these signs and lubricate the dental handpiece as soon as they appear. Doing this regularly not only keeps your handpiece operating smoothly and efficiently, but also prolongs its life to save you money!
A few basic tools and the right lubricant are all it takes to properly lubricate a dental handpiece. You can lubricate your dental handpiece by following these steps:
You should lubricate your handpiece before sterilization, not after. A high-quality handpiece lubricant like Sable EZ Lube won't degrade or break down in an autoclave. Lubrication prior to autoclaving has also been shown to increase the longevity of air-turbine handpiece bearings.
For specific lubrication and maintenance recommendations, please refer to each dental handpiece's instruction manual.
Cleaning and lubrication are two of the foundations of handpiece maintenance.
Handpieces should be cleaned after each use (even between sterilizations) in order to prevent cross-contamination. However, since handpiece cleaners often contain abrasives that can get into the mechanism of the handpiece, it is important to follow cleaning with lubrication.
Using high-quality lubricants specifically designed for dental handpieces has several advantages. Some of the key benefits include:
It is imperative that you only use lubricants specifically designed for use with dental handpieces. Products meant for other products, such as automobiles or industrial machinery, may not contain the additives and properties necessary for dental handpieces, and may contain harmful chemicals, abrasives, or other unwanted ingredients.
When dental handpieces are not properly lubricated, they perform poorly, generate more noise, and ultimately need to be repaired or replaced sooner than they should.
To prolong the life of your dental handpiece, be sure to follow manufacturer's recommendations regarding lubrication and lubricate it regularly using a quality dental handpiece lubricant.
We hope that this article was a helpful refresher on dental handpiece lubrication and how to do it properly. If you have any further questions or concerns about Sable EZ Lube, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to help you get the most out of your handpiece!