Innovation and quality define NSK’s products, including the company’s newest handpieces
A 1990 graduate from SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Kaminer maintains 2 practices, one in Hewlett, NY, and one in Oceanside, NY. He has lectured on lasers and minimally invasive dentistry both nationally and internationally. He is the Director of the Masters of Laser training program in New York and is a clinical instructor with the International College of Laser Education. Dr. Kaminer maintains a teaching appointment at Peninsula General Hospital in Far Rockaway, NY. He sits on the advisory boards and is a clinical consultant for many dental manufacturers. He has authored numerous articles on dental lasers and minimally invasive dentistry and is a member of Dental Product Shopper’s editorial advisory board.
Benefits of Speed
“One of the things that’s totally overlooked by many dentists is when your handpiece slows down or stops,” said Dr. Kaminer. “If you’re not getting the torque and power you need, you’re going to generate heat, which is going to lead to potential handpiece damage or discomfort for the patient, and it’s going to slow you down.
“The huge advantage of a handpiece like this that’s air-driven is that it’s much quicker,” he continued. “It’s not slowing down and it’s also not delivering the heat that you might get from the slowdown of other handpieces.”
A handpiece that slows down can potentially damage the instrument itself and also might inflict harm to tooth structure. “Imagine cutting off a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown and delivering heat to that,” explained Dr. Kaminer. “Despite the water spray and everything else, the slowdown will deliver some heat that could raise the temperature a bit inside the tooth and potentially cause damage. It’s unlikely, but the potential definitely exists.” The power and speed of the Ti-Max Z990L prevent that potential damage.
A Good Fit
How a handpiece feels in the hand is critical. Many powerful handpieces feel heavy, which results in fatigue and potential hand and wrist injury. However, despite all of the power and energy behind the Ti-Max Z990L, it weighs 20% less than other handpieces.
“NSK is about innovation,” said Dr. Kaminer. “They realize that the industry is changing and that 55% to 60% of dental students are women, who may have smaller hands than men. A lighter handpiece definitely benefits everyone by reducing the risks of carpal tunnel syndrome, but it also will benefit anyone with smaller hands. Delivering the power and yet being more than 20% lighter is a huge, huge advantage.”
During manufacturing, NSK blasts the surface of the handpiece’s pure titanium body to create microsurface unevenness. It then adds a layer of its DURAGRIP nonslip and scratch-resistant coating. In addition to resisting scratches and improving durability, the uneven surface enhances user comfort.
“Water spray can sometimes get the handpiece wet,” explained Dr. Kaminer. “Having texture is always beneficial so the handpiece won’t slip out of your hand.”
Ticking the Boxes
For Dr. Kaminer, NSK and its Ti-Max Z990L handpiece tick all of the boxes. “Some would say that a handpiece is a handpiece. Anytime you’re doing crown and bridge or operative restorative dentistry, you’re going to use a handpiece like this,” he said. “I think the advantage is that if you’re cutting off 4 or 5 crowns or doing a lot of crown and bridge, you want something with power. On a long appointment, you want something that weighs less and has a lot of power. The Ti-Max Z990L does both.”
