title: Keys to successful handpiece maintenance.
abstract: The purpose of this paper is to assist those individuals involved in maintaining dental handpiece systems. Proper preparation and handling of the instruments both before and after sterilization is critical to their longevity and performance. Asepsis guidelines and protocols are presented as well as references to the major handpiece manufacturers. Sterilization systems are discussed to assist in making decisions regarding the use of sterilizers best suited to dental handpieces.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment / Q000382:microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D008153:Lubrication; D008283:Maintenance / Q000379:methods; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods