NLZ and Z95L: A Perfect Pair

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By: Dental Product Shopper

4/12/2023

NSK’s DPS Best Products include a compact electric micromotor and two handpieces designed for speed, safety, and comfort

Like peanut butter and jelly, flowers and springtime, or a wink and a smile, some things are just better together. While you won’t find it quoted on a coffee mug, NSK’s Ti-Max Z95L electric handpiece and NLZ micromotor are better together, too.

Put to the test by a group of DPS evaluators 5 years ago, the handpiece and micromotor duo came out on top, with a score of 4.6 out of 5. Clinicians were especially enamored with the handpiece system’s preprogrammed settings, speed, and ergonomics.

“When we moved to a new office location 10 years ago, we decided to make the switch to electric handpieces,” recalled Jayendra Patel, DDS, who practices alongside his brother, Dr. Hemu Patel, in Irving, TX. “After trying out many brands, we liked NSK the best. Now, we use the Ti-Max Z series handpieces with the NLZ clinical micromotor, which gives us 6-speed settings that we can cycle through with a touch of a button. We use the settings to help maximize our tooth preparations and restoration polishing. It allows the procedure to move very smoothly while increasing patient comfort.”

More Light, Less Heat

The NLZ employs an improved magnet rotor for more powerful rotation, a fiber-optic LED light for enhanced visibility, and water and air lines that are integrated with the motor—a more efficient configuration that maximizes space while making the unit lighter than ever before. Within the micromotor, compact non-layered coils shorten the pathway for heat-generating currents, allowing the NLZ to generate less heat without reducing power.

“I love the ability to change the intensity of the LED light, which helps me see the margins on the distal of second molars,” added Dr. Patel. “Also, the Ti-Max Z handpiece does not get hot because it comes with an anti-heat system and has a sensor that prevents it from overheating. This is very useful when you are cutting out zirconia crowns.”

The Need for Speed & Space

With 4.2 Ncm of torque in general mode, the NLZ can be used for a variety of high- and low-speed treatments. Made of light and very strong pure titanium, the Ti-Max Z95 L features an ergonomic body shape and duragrip coating for superior grip.

“The Ti-Max Z95L paired with the NLZ micromotor creates a well-designed handpiece system,” said Dr. Stephen Gordon. “The electric handpiece runs well with high power and very low noise. I can easily prepare teeth for composite restorations, core buildups, crowns, onlays, or laminate veneers quickly and efficiently, which reduces appointment time and increases patient comfort and satisfaction. This has led to word-of-mouth patient referrals.”

With a space-saving design, the NLZ delivers all the specs of a premium electric motor in the smallest package possible, and it can be mounted and installed in dental units of all shapes, styles, and sizes. The main unit fits under the counter, and because only the control unit is visible, the area by the dentist chair is neat and tidy.

“The NLZ micromotor is simple to install on existing chairside power units and consists of 2 small parts—a power unit and compact display module with plenty of settings available to adjust and set to the dentist's preferences," said Dr. Gordon. "I have used this system daily for several years now, and it has worked consistently well with no need for repairs.”

Still Smaller!

For Robin Henderson, DDS, who has been using electric handpieces for over two decades, NSK’s nano95LS, another DPS Best Product, is the most balanced and comfortable handpiece she’s ever used. “As a CEREC user for the past 7 years, I appreciate firsthand the benefits of a very smooth and clean preparation, and the electric handpiece is far superior for achieving that,” she noted.

Compatible with the NLZ micromotor, the nano95LS is 10% smaller and lighter than other electric handpieces. Paired with slim neck dimensions, this “smart miniaturization” allows the nano to maneuver easily in small spaces and difficult-to-reach areas of the mouth, such as posterior zirconia crowns in patients with limited mouth openings. “The nano is lighter in weight and affords greater visibility because of its smaller head, especially when working in upper posterior teeth,” noted Dr. Grace Chu.

Perhaps Milwaukee clinician Dr. Kristen Joyce summed it up best when she said the nano is “small enough to easily work on everyone’s least favorite teeth: Nos. 1/2 and 15/16.”