Tips for the maintenance of rotary instruments in your dental clinic

We know that the purchase of rotating instruments can be an important but necessary investment for your dental clinic. That is why we are going to provide you with a series of tips for the correct maintenance and care of contra-angle handpieces, turbines and handpieces in the clinic. With these tips you will ensure their correct functioning, extend their useful life and reduce repairs and consequent expenses in your dental clinic. But above all, it is very important that you always take into account the indications of the manufacturer of the AC, turbine or handpiece. Because the maintenance is not always the same between different brands.

The basic maintenance, common to all manufacturers of rotary instruments for dental practice, is as follows:

Cleaning: Clean your rotating instruments regularly. Preferably after each use, even if not sterilized, as this will guarantee maximum hygiene and thus avoid cross-contamination. Maintenance and sterilization do not cause damage to suitable instruments. We recommend cleaning and greasing them at least twice a day; after each sterilization and after a long period of non-use.

Lubrication: In addition, if you have used a contra-angle handpiece for a cleaning, you must lubricate it immediately with polishing paste. The particles that make up the cleaning paste, due to their abrasive power, penetrate into the mechanisms of the contra-angle head, which can cause early mechanical wear.

Steps for the correct maintenance of dental rotary instruments:

STEP 1: Rinse the rotary instrument with plenty of cold or warm water to remove debris. Please note the following:

It is advisable to use a brush with soft bristles to avoid damaging the product.
DON’T use hot water, as this can cause blood to clot inside the instrument and block the bearings and the clamp.
DON’T use chemicals or abrasives, because they will damage the outer surface of rotating instruments, cause a deterioration in their appearance, and can remove the inner layer of lubrication.
DON’T immerse the instruments in disinfectant liquids, because they corrode their mechanical parts in a very short time.
DON’T use disinfectant wipes or alcohol for external cleaning or disinfection of dental instruments. This is due to the fact that the steam penetrates through the internal holes, corrodes the bearings and destroys the materials very quickly.

STEP 2:Lubricate the instrument:

It is essential that you use lubricant for the maintenance of your materials in the dental clinic. For this, it is important to use aerosol oils of very good quality, preferably 100 % synthetic, as they offer many technical advantages and help to extend the useful life of your instruments. The price of synthetic oils is not usually higher than that of traditional mineral oils.

At Dentaltix we offer you some lubricants so that you can get the most out of your rotary instruments:
When carrying out any cleaning, disinfection and maintenance task, it is important that you take into account the Lubricare and Assistina that perform these functions automatically and speed up the processes, since they provide you with a time saving, unlike if it was done manually.

For the lubrication of the instrument, it is important that you always use the adapter that corresponds to the coupling system you are using. For the correct lubrication of contra-angle handpieces and handpieces you need an “INTRA” adapter . To get the optimum penetration to the deepest recess and in the right amount, using it without a nozzle is a waste of expensive oil and dirtying the equipment, outside. You can choose your adapter depending on the materials you are going to lubricate, as is the case of the adaptor nozzles for spray by MK-Dent Adapters for lubricants.

How to lubricate your rotary instruments correctly?

First lubricate for 1 second from the access of the bur to the inside of the head. This step is key to removing all debris left inside the clamp that is not otherwise removed. At least once a week, after this operation use an interproximal brush to make two or three entries in the clamp and clean it deeply.

Finally, insert completely the adapter through the back of the instrument, and grease the instrument for several seconds, until the oil comes out completely clean through the holes in the head. If the head of your contra-angle handpiece is detachable, grease the two parts separately, each with its corresponding adapter.
Should the turbine, contra-angle or handpiece be sterilized?

First of all, check that the instrument is suitable to be sterilized in autoclave and/or thermodisinfected. If the manufacturer recommends doing so, you can usually sterilize your rotary instruments in an autoclave up to 135º C. Preferably in a class “B” autoclave. Never use heat cycles to dry your rotary instruments.

How to store the rotary instruments in the clinic?

After maintenance, store your instruments completely dry, in a clean and dry place.
Other tips for the maintenance of rotary instruments in the clinic that will save you a lot of money:

Finally, it is very important that if you notice any anomaly in the functioning of your rotary instruments in the clinic, do not use it and call your trusted technician to review it.

Use good quality drills, as they have standardized stems with a very small manufacturing tolerance. If the shank is out of tolerance, it skids inside the clamp when pressing and wears out in a very short time.
Discard very worn drills. This is advisable because when not cutting well, they require a higher pressure, which is transmitted to the bearings, heats them, carbonizes them and discards them very early. It is also possible that you could run the risk of the bur “grabbing” the clamp and not being able to remove it.

Never actuate the push button to change the drill while the instrument is rotating, thus avoiding unnecessary wear of the push parts of the button.

Also, make sure that the air that reaches the instruments is completely dry. It is recommended that you install a dryer in the compressor of the clinic.

Although as a best broadcasting company in oman we know that you are experts in maintaining your rotating material for the clinic in optimal conditions, we hope that these tips will be a useful reminder. If you want to know more about the maintenance of your rotary instruments, visit our article with video in which we explain step by step maintenance of the turbine and contra-angle handpiece in your dental practice.

For those of you who are initiating studies related to dentistry, we hope you will take full advantage of these recommendations.