Take handpiece maintenance to the next level

Feel like your office has the basics down? There are likely many areas in your operatory that you are not considering.

Remember to flush your vacuum lines on a daily basis to prevent buildup of debris inside the lines and pump. Buildup will reduce suction or damage the pump. Cleaning the vacuum valve and trap should also be done weekly. Cleaning and maintaining your dental waterlines is crucial to your overall operatory maintenance to prevent biofilm, but it also plays a role in handpiece maintenance to prevent blocked waterlines.

You may be following all the proper maintenance steps, but you are doing damage on many levels if the water running through your handpieces is not treated, by shocking, and regular maintenance.

Air pressure also plays a major role in how long your handpieces last. You must first check your air compressor to make sure it’s running and sized properly. Your air compressor dealer or Hayes representative can show you how to run an air pressure cycle test. There is an optimum PSI range for every type of handpiece, and it varies. Low air pressures will not give you enough power, and high air pressures will damage the handpiece. Have your air pressures checked annually at the dental unit by Hayes or a qualified technician or ask Hayes for a chart of recommended air pressures.

Joe Hayes, CEO of Hayes Handpiece Company, says the company offers CE credit for a variety of maintenance training, and has developed several different posters with step-by-step instructions for maintaining handpieces, instruments, operatory equipment, chamber sterilizers and Statim sterilizers.

Information provided by Hayes Handpiece, experts in handpiece service and maintenance. To find out how they can help your practice, call 800-228-0521.-228-0521.