Optima MX

According to Bien-Air, the brushless electric micromotor offers exceptional performance at both low and high speeds (100 rpm to 200,000 rpm) and has a unique quick-disconnect coupling for faster connection. The MX system provides auto-reverse and torque control to decrease the potential for endodontic file breakage, and Bien-Air attachments come equipped with the industry's only handpiece anti-heat push button mechanism. Two examples of Swiss ingenuity that elevate practice safety.

Speed and Torque

Seven of the 9 dentists who evaluated the Optima MX rated speed as excellent and 2 rated it as very good. The convenience of both high- and low-speed capabilities in one attachment was rated as excellent by 4 evaluators, as very good by 4, and as good by 1.

Improvement with preparation surfaces in high speed was rated as excellent by 7 evaluators and as very good by 2. When asked to evaluate added precision in low-speed applications, 1 dentist said it “isn’t really appreciated by most practitioners.” This feature was rated as excellent by 6 evaluators and as very good to good by 3.

Torque, rated as excellent by 7 evaluators and as very good by 2, was described as “great” by 1 evaluator. One dentist “felt constant force when using the handpiece” and another reported “exceptional torque with electric handpieces.”

Ease of Use and Integration

According to the manufacturer, ease of use is enhanced by single-touch activation, easy-to-change program settings, and an intuitive speed display that can be adjusted with an existing pedal.

Ease of use of the Optima MX was rated as excellent by 4 evaluators, as very good by 4, and as good by 1. One dentist called it “a great system…easy to use,” another called it “very easy to use…pertaining more to the control pad’s functions,” and a third described it as “simple to set up and use.” One evaluator noted that he felt “the connection O-ring isn’t tight enough to prevent separation of the handpiece and motor.”

When asked about “in-the-field” integration, 4 dentists rated it as excellent, 4 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as good. One dentist “would even like sterile irrigation added for implant placement and surgical use” and another reported “no issues,” adding, “The motor is hidden in my floor panel and the control pad is small and off to the side.”

Electric Versus Air-Driven

Low-speed electric handpieces have been called highly superior (torque and speed) to their air-driven counterparts, and high-speed electric handpieces are reported to produce less noise and have twice the torque and precision cutting ability of air rotors.1 When asked to compare the Optima MX to their previous air-driven handpiece, 7 dentists rated it as excellent and 2 rated it as very good or good. One evaluator described it as “slightly better in a number of aspects,” and another said, “it doesn’t get better than electric.”

Noise level, rated as excellent by 6 evaluators and as very good to good by 3, was described as “outstanding” by 1 evaluator. Another dentist said, “The noise reduction probably adds to patient comfort.”

Overall Satisfaction

All 9 evaluators said they would definitely recommend the Optima MX to their colleagues; 8 would definitely purchase it and 1 probably would. Overall satisfaction was rated as excellent by 3 evaluators and as very good by 6. One evaluator said, “It’s hard to use an air handpiece after using electric.”

Reference

1. Christensen GJ. High-tech dentistry: what is necessary and what is not. J Am Dent Assoc. 2006;137:1592-1596.