Dentistry has come a long way from the Middle Ages when it was performed by barbers. A little off the top Chuck, and can you take care of that bottom molar? Today’s dentists are skilled medical professionals that can perform intricate procedures using modern tools and equipment. Perhaps the best known and also the scariest of these is the drill. There are two different types of drill.
The Turbine Drill
Dental drills are incredible little machines. The turbine type is driven by compressed air. Through the use of a dental handpiece quick connect, different drills can be attached quickly. This variety is also called a high-speed drill. Turbine drills turn at more than 180,000 rpm and certainly earn their alternate name. With its ultra-high speeds, the torque of a turbine drill varies and they generally need to be cooled by water. It’s a very effective tool that is popular with many dentists. Turbine drills are evenly weighted and some dentists like that type of feel in the hand.
The Electric Drill
With less power than the turbine type, the electric drill is nevertheless a good tool for the job of drilling teeth. A small motor called a micromotor powers the electric dentist drill. The handpiece contains gears that allow the drill to turn at a constant speed regardless of torque. The motor in an electric tends to make it feel heavier at one end. Some dentists prefer this feel which is quite different from that of a turbine drill.
For many people, the drill is the scariest part of going to the dentist. The sound, the feeling of the vibrations in your mouth, and just the thought of something cutting through your teeth can be unsettling. But if you stop to think about what wonderous machines these tools are, it might take away a little of the anxiety. Thanks to that other dental invention, novocaine, you won’t feel any pain.