An instrument designed to hold the burs used in dentistry to remove tooth structure or to smooth and polish restorative materials. Handpiece rotations are measured in rotations per second. Handpieces may be powered by electric motor or air turbines and are characterized as high speed or low speed depending on their rotational speed.
A motor driven device used in dentistry. The three basic designs are based on the shape of the handpiece and include the straight, contra-angle, and right angle handpiece. Handpieces are classified according to the speed of their rotation. They contain a chuck for holding tools used in preparing teeth for restoration, polishing, and condensing.