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Dentistry vocabulary · Instruments and the Dental Clinic

Handpiece

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ˈhændpiːs/nounCore term

In dentistry, handpiece means: The hand-held tool that holds and spins a bur or polishing cup. High-speed handpieces cut enamel and old fillings; slow-speed ones remove soft decay and polish.

In Turkish: aeratör, anguldurva, piyasemen, döner el aleti

How it is used

Patients call it the drill. The high-speed handpiece is an air turbine; slow-speed handpieces are straight or contra-angle. Handpieces are cleaned, oiled and sterilized after every patient.

Example sentences

  1. Pass me the high-speed handpiece and a round diamond bur, please.

  2. The slow-speed handpiece is making a strange noise; it may need servicing.

Common collocations

  • high-speed handpiece
  • slow-speed handpiece
  • contra-angle handpiece
  • straight handpiece
  • air turbine
  • burA small rotating cutting tool that fits into a handpiece. Burs come in many shapes and sizes and are made of diamond, tungsten carbide or steel.
  • suctionEquipment that removes saliva, water and debris from the patient's mouth during treatment. High-volume suction also reduces spray and aerosol.
  • autoclaveA machine that sterilizes instruments with steam under high pressure and temperature, usually at 121 °C or 134 °C, killing bacteria, viruses and spores.
  • rubber damA thin sheet of latex or latex-free rubber stretched on a frame and held by a clamp, so that only the tooth being treated shows through a hole.

More terms: Instruments and the Dental Clinic

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.