Now I know I'm hopelessly addicted to WW...

[Denco]

Had a dental emergency today. The dentist had to file down a tooth. The only thing I could think about when he was power grinding was my Dremel and some work I was going to use it for.

Asked him if he owned one. He said no. Too bad, he'd probably be pretty good at it.

Not sure, but his high speed grinding tool may have said "DeWalt" on the side....or maybe I just wanted it to.

[JoeyGee]

I don't think any company would want to have their names on dental tools. I know that's the last company I would buy from.

[LCHIEN]

you should have asked him about it. My friend and dentist I think we had that discussion once and I think those dental drills or dremels if you will turn about 100,000 RPM, about 5 time faster than your dremel. and they have to be autoclavable which means they withstand pressure steam sterilization after every use. They do cost a pretty penny for all that stainless steel.

[phrog]

you should have asked him about it. My friend and dentist I think we had that discussion once and I think those dental drills or dremels if you will turn about 100,000 RPM, about 5 time faster than your dremel. and they have to be autoclavable which means they withstand pressure steam sterilization after every use. They do cost a pretty penny for all that stainless steel.

The last time I bought dental equipment in the mid 90's, I was told that the high speed handpieces (drills) turned at about a quarter-million rpms. A good quality one cost in the neighborhood of $400-$500. They have to be autoclaved after every use and the steam sterilization does get to them after a couple dozen cycles. However, the cartridge can be replaced for $100-$200 rather than replacing the entire handpiece. Now you know why dentistry is so expensive.

PS I do have a something akin to a Dremel (made by Ryobi) that I have had for years and explained to patients that dentistry is just woodworking on a very small scale.

[LCHIEN]

didn't geo washington have wooden teeth?

[annunaki]

Got the old ones

I asked my Dentist what he did with his old drill bits whether he had them sharpened or just replaced. He said they got replaced and he just threw the old ones in his junk drawer, when it got full he trashed them- that day I left his office with about 50 bits still good enough for my Dremel !

[Denco]

didn't geo washington have wooden teeth?

Hey, there's an idea for a new BT3 contest.

[Stytooner]

Would you paint them with..........enamel?

[chopnhack]

didn't geo washington have wooden teeth?

You know he didn't... He actually had dentures, at least a lower one that I know of that was carved from.. get this... hippopotamus ivory! The dentures take stain readily so his teeth looked like wood over years of use.

[phrog]

didn't geo washington have wooden teeth?

I'm not old enough to answer that.

[phrog]

I asked my Dentist what he did with his old drill bits whether he had them sharpened or just replaced. He said they got replaced and he just threw the old ones in his junk drawer, when it got full he trashed them- that day I left his office with about 50 bits still good enough for my Dremel !

The high speed handpieces (drills) use burs (bits) that could not be sharpened. Contrary to popular belief, burs are sharp along their edge and cut like a router bit rather than a drill bit. Only a few, such as round burs (a sphere at the bottom end of the shank) cut at the tip. These burs are so small they can't be sharpened. The high-speed burs are usually good for one tooth and then have to be discarded. (Tooth enamel is VERY hard and the bur has to be VERY sharp or the tooth will become a BBQ pit for the nerve.)

Slow speed handpieces use burs that are more appropriate for woodworking but are used in the lab, not on patients. Most dentists go through these slow speed burs much more slowly.

Additionally, the high-speed bits will not fit a Dremel without a special collet (very small) whereas, the slow speed burs will fit.
If you want to do very small, delicate work, get a small collet and the high speed burs.

[phrog]

Hey, there's an idea for a new BT3 contest.

Tooth or Consequences?

[cabinetman]

Dental hand pieces are air driven, and are low torque. They spin fast, and have a cooling function with a water mist. In the past, and it's likely that some dentists still use them are cord driven hand drills, or flex shaft type handpieces, with a foot control, like units that Foredom makes.

These mechanical hand drills drill much slower, and used in cases where intricate drilling needs to take place, and without the blinding water mist of the air hand piece.

.

[Denco]

Tooth or Consequences?

LOL! Way ta go, Phrog-man.

[phrog]

Dental hand pieces are air driven, and are low torque. They spin fast, and have a cooling function with a water mist. In the past, and it's likely that some dentists still use them are cord driven hand drills, or flex shaft type handpieces, with a foot control, like units that Foredom makes.

These mechanical hand drills drill much slower, and used in cases where intricate drilling needs to take place, and without the blinding water mist of the air hand piece.

.

The mechanical handpieces about which you speak had fallen into disfavor by the time that I had started practicing dentistry in the late 70's. You may occasionally find one still in use but I emphasize the word "occasionally." The slow speed handpieces with high torque that are used by "most" dentists today are also air driven but turn at about 8-10,000 rpms vs 200-250,000 rpms of the high speeds. The torque of the high speeds is such that they can be stopped by "catching" with your fingers although I never tried this. (I saw an instructor do it once to prove the low torque.) The slow speeds have much higher torque and could be used for woodworking if you have an air compressor. The mechanical type that are belt driven and the flex-shafts can sometimes be found in an office where a lot of dentures are made and in dental laboratories mostly. They, too, would be useful for woodworking.

You are also right about the air-water mist - it is a necessity for high speeds abrading teeth but would impede woodworking. Therefore, slow speeds, belt-drives, and flex shafts are more appropriate for woodworkers although high speeds could be used for VERY small work if you are willing to spend the bucks and stop often to let the wood and bur cool.

I think that you once told me, C'man, that your father was a dentist and I would guess that is where your knowledge of dental handpieces came from.