There is nothing more frustrating than going to eat your lunch and your plastic fork snaps. Although cheap alternatives are in many cases able to perform the most basic functions most people would prefer to use proper cutlery, as they know deep down it will last longer and be more pleasant to use. You are unlikely to actively choose this cheap option day-in-day-out if there is a choice.
Your dental handpieces are high quality instruments designed by specialist manufacturers for professionals to use. These companies invest in research and development to ensure they continue to bring you innovations in handpieces enabling you to achieve the best results in your treatments. Cheaper copies can be purchased online but where quality is an issue, is it really worth staking a professional reputation on what could be considered to be the dental equivalent of a picnic fork?
Remember, you get the handpiece you pay for. Investing in lesser products may prove more serious than at first expected. Handpieces are not always what they were or what they are promoted to be. With cheap copies available on the internet and some suppliers looking to reduce costs both in the UK and elsewhere, you may not be getting appropriate quality and service. Handpieces sold on the internet may well not hold an official CE mark even if they show the marking on the product and therefore have not been tested fit for use. Look carefully at the regulations regarding the use of products which have not met official UK standards as there may be implications beyond just the quality of the product. Purchasing look-a-likes may be a cheaper option but is in many cases not a safer one. As your most hardworking tool, it is important to buy the right handpiece and not risk the possible consequences.
The current economic downturn has made purchasing decisions even more critical as they will be made with a certain degree of reticence, so it is imperative that you make the right decisions when investing in your practice. Newspapers reiterate how difficult it is to survive in a period of decline making it absolutely necessary for all purchases to be right for your current needs, especially when they are so important to the day-to-day running of your practice. The survival of your business is directly affected by ensuring that you do not have unplanned downtime and is therefore dependent upon growth and profit, only attainable through prudent investments.
Individual manufacturers need to be offering their customers sound advice to assist them in making the right choice. Companies supplying high quality products and backup, with UK based support services are looking to the future for their customers and in doing so, helping them build an efficient and profitable business. This can be done in a number of ways. Your chosen supplier should be giving you the assistance in selecting the right products to suit your individual needs and the best method of funding your purchase, so it is worth asking about finance including rental schemes, such as the one offered by W&H, as these may prove beneficial both from a tax and cash flow perspective.
With many less invasive techniques coming and going, there is as yet, no real alternative to the rotary cutting instrument. For this reason the dental profession should be looking to gain the best possible value from the new innovations in cutting instruments to improve their working environment especially considering the product is a long term investment with high user interaction. Investment in a handpiece that suits you is an essential part of the efficient functioning of the practice, so pay particular attention to some fundamentals when selecting and using your preferred handpiece.
It is important that as dental professionals you look to offer your patients quality care, which comes from using high quality, reliable products, while remembering that you spend many hours per day holding your handpiece. So what should be important when selecting a handpiece? Your priorities when making your choice should be the influence it will have on patients, yourself and your team. A smaller handpiece head for easier access, reduced levels of noise and vibration all result in greater comfort for practitioner and patient. Ergonomics is important as you should consider whether your choice will reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury and cumulative trauma disorders. Look for a handpiece design which is comfortable and easy to hold without stress to the hand or fingers, such as the W&H Alegra and Synea ranges.
Handpiece lumination has improved beyond recognition with the advent of LED. The colour rendering index (CRI) is an important aspect of artificial illumination with a perfect colour rendition having an index value of 100. Therefore you need to be looking for a handpiece that offers a CRI of over 90 which will give you the rich colour contrasts you need for a life-like view. Choose carefully as there are many different offerings giving varying levels of enhanced visibility and reduction of eye stress. Select an LED which offers daylight grade lumination as it is kinder on your eyes, gives improved visibility, better colour definition and reduced heat. Some handpieces offer an integrated LED generator allowing you to enjoy the technology regardless of the motor or coupling you are using.
Only purchase handpieces that adhere to current regulations for health and safety and those that are both thermo-washer disinfectable and sterilisable.
Good quality handpieces, made by good quality manufacturers are easy to recognise and should be supplied with at least a one-year warranty as standard. It has been proven over many years of research that the higher the quality of the handpiece, the superior the performance over longer periods of time. It is therefore worth investing wisely and looking after your investment. If the handpiece or manufacturer chosen does not meet the above criteria then it is not likely to offer long-term value for money. To prolong the useful life of your handpieces and to protect the patient and the team from the risk of cross contamination it is important that the dental team follow a strict infection control regime.
When selecting your handpiece, it is worth identifying whether the manufacturer can meet all your needs, whether they are able to offer a full range of products, local service support, care and maintenance training and the appropriate solutions for decontamination. You should be given guidance on the products available to assist you in looking after your handpieces, such as automatic handpiece care systems like the Assistina which provides a fast and effective cleaning and lubrication procedure. Most quality handpiece manufacturers will also be happy to advise you on how best to look after your handpiece and will offer an internal maintenance/repair facility. When looking for repair facilities look for those companies which are accredited with factory trained technicians and who are using genuine manufacturer supplied parts as both of these have an impact on the future warranty and running of your handpieces.
Remember, you get what you pay for so it is always worthwhile making a sound investment and purchasing a well-established, well supported brand known for quality and reliability.