Dental drill, definition, types and ger

Dentist Drills | Definition, types and noise

In addition to the probe and mirror, the dentist’s drill to the basic cutlery at the dentist. But its steady hum makes many patients uncomfortable.

Table of Contents

What is a dentist drill?

The dentist drill is a special tool from dentistry. The small rotating instrument basically works like a drill and is used to mechanically remove tooth damage. The French dentist Pierre Fauchard came up with the idea of treating perforated teeth in this way and then filling them in the 18th century. He developed the first dental drill and is still considered to be "Father of modern dentistry". The dentist drills of that time were still operated by foot and differed significantly from today’s models. On the one hand, such pedal drills were significantly slower, on the other hand, they had much less precision. It was not until the mid-20th century that dental drills powered by air and air pressure came onto the market. They were at a speed of about 5,000 revolutions per minute faster and made the visit to the dentist much more pleasant for patients.

Why do you need dentist drills??

A dentist drill is used to remove lesions caused by tooth decay and periodontitis. To remove these sick areas thoroughly and clean them can, the drill has to work its way through the hard tooth substance.

This requires a special drill bit made of an extra hard material such as diamond or steel. The sharpness and precision of the instrument are equally important, so that only diseased tissue is removed and healthy tissue is spared. The drill is also used to remove cracked fillings and old dentures. The device is one of the basic instruments of modern medical practice, because without it the dentist could not do his job.

How is the structure of a dentist drill?

A dentist drill consists of three basic elements:

The device is connected to the drive by a cable on the shaft. The head is the actual work part and is provided with a suitable drill attachment as required. Depending on the work step, the dentist chooses the right shape, size and sharpness. After the filling has been placed, the drill bit can be exchanged for a grinding wheel or rubber polisher to give the teeth the necessary shine.

What types of drills are there??

In today’s dental practice, the dentist can choose from a variety of drills. The most important difference between drill types is their drive. So-called rose drills are equipped with a motor; in contrast, the dentist drills known as turbines are driven by compressed air. Comparison of the two types:

Rose drills (also called fissure drills or contra-angle handpieces) are angled preparation instruments and are operated electrically by motor. The drill attachment is made of steel and is modeled on the appearance of a rose blossom. This type of dental drill reaches a speed between 1,000 and 200,000 revolutions per minute. Despite their comparatively strong vibrations, rose drills are more gentle on the tissue than the turbine. However, patients may find the vibration painful.
The turbine can reach very high speeds with up to 450,000 revolutions per minute. As a result, turbines work with very little vibration and the risk of overheating is low. In addition, the low-vibration run has the advantage that pain is reduced. This type of dental drill is operated by compressed air, which in turn rotates a turbine wheel. However, some patients find the whistling sound of the turbine disadvantageous when drilling.

How do dental drills work??

In the case of drills with an electric motor, the force is transmitted to the working head using shafts. In a turbine, it is the air flow that creates the rotation on the drill head. Since the invention of the drill for the teeth, the devices have been continuously developed, today’s dentist drills run with up to 450,000 revolutions per minute.

That sounds impressive, but this speed is less suitable for caries removal because it creates so much heat. But crucial for the successful treatment is that the tooth doesn’t overheat. If it gets too warm when drilling, the tooth tissue is damaged. In the worst case, the sensitive tooth nerve becomes inflamed. That is why dentists prefer the slower round bur to remove carious spots; the ideal speed is around 1,000 to 1,500 revolutions. In addition, water is fed into the mouth for cooling during drilling and milling.

There are quiet dentist drills?

Modern drills actually work relatively quietly (about 60 decibels). However, if you sit on the dentist’s chair yourself, the drilling noise sounds loud. First, this is because the drill in the mouth is very close to the ear. Second, the oral cavity acts as a resonance room that amplifies the sound. Similar to the mouth drum, an instrument whose sound is changed by the size of the mouth of the musician. On the other hand, hope for silent visits to the dentist offers new developments that could revolutionize the way dentist drills work.

So promises one new To make drills with laser dental treatments almost painless and noiseless in the future. The device is not yet ready for the market, because not every fabric responds to every light color. A different laser is therefore required to remove caries than to remove old filling material. Researchers are currently working on a laser device that can do both and could effectively replace the good old dentist’s drill.

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