As a dental assistant, you do more than just administrative duties; you are also responsible for maintaining dental equipment. In most cases, when the dental drill malfunctions or does not work as expected, you might be expected to address the issue immediately. Listed below are 3 dental drill maintenance tips to help you with this task.

Follow Manufacturer's Recommendations

Always follow the instructions that came along with a hand tool. One way to ensure this is using the equipment in the proper PSI (usually between 30 and 40 PSI). If the hand piece runs at a higher pressure, you will most likely cut the life of the bearings and chuck. Remember, running the drill with the burr pulled out longer for extra reach can destroy your bearings and chuck fast.

Washing Your Drill

Always clean the outer casing using warm water or alcohol and a soft bristle brush. The hand piece should never be soaked in any chemical or water. In addition, ultrasonic cleaners should be avoided unless expressly recommended by the drill's manufacturer.

Choosing the Right Lubricant

Although sprays are safe, they bring along with them propellant that should evaporate before the lubricant is left. In most cases, a syringe or oil pen will offer you the best results. They provide greater, direct control of the oil. Ensure that the oil used meets the manufacturer's specifications. If you choose to use a spray, ensure that you have the right nozzle. The right nozzle ensures that you get your oil where it is required.

Use around three blasts of a second each in the drill's air hole. For the two-hole system drill, the air hole is the smaller while it is the middle one for three-hole systems. You should work the chuck by placing your burr in and out and making sure that the oil has worked itself into the workings thoroughly.

Ensure your burr does not contain any contaminant and run the drill in the air at 20 PSI before without the burr for thirty seconds over paper towels. The towels should indicate if the oil has cleared. If not, repeat the procedure until oil is clear. Return your burr and run for around half a minute at normal air pressure; be on the lookout for contaminant. If the oil is clear, store your drill in an autoclave.

Proper care of your dental drill will help alleviate sudden problems and extend its life as well. The tips above should be carried out on a day-to-day basis to ensure that you can concentrate on providing the best dental care to your patients. If your equipment needs services or repairs, talk to resources such as Medical Dental Solutions NQ.

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