Every medical or dental professional in the world wants their patients to be as comfortable as possible during procedures, but in the case of dental handpieces, the physical comfort of the practicing dentist really has to come first. Unnecessary fatigue and unfortunate mistakes can occur when the dental professional is working with a sub par or ill fitting dental handpiece. While some dental professionals will go out of their way to choose the quietest drill possible, the result could be a less effective instrument. A dentist should always choose a dental handpiece that fits well in their hand, is weight appropriate for their needs, and is proven to be effective in all manner of dental work. That is the best way to serve your patients well.

It’s true that dental handpieces can be very noisy and therefore frightening to patients. Is there a way to reduce the stress for those patients who are sensitive to the high pitched, shrill noises most dental handpieces make?

Part of the reason so many people avoid seeking help from dentists is their fear of the drill. No doubt about it, the normal sounds dental handpieces make do little to inspire patient confidence, especially among those who don’t have any information about them. Some patients are too embarrassed or don’t think to ask questions about the dental and medical equipment you are using. In the case of the handpiece, this lack of information can lead to unnecessary stress and fear on the part of your patient. It only takes a few seconds to explain the drill, why it makes the sounds it does, and how it aids you in correcting their dental issues. While this crash course in dental surgery tools might not make all of the fear disappear, with most people it will help.