The new Ti-Max Z990L and Z890L air-driven handpieces expertly combine incredible power with easy access and whisper-quiet operation
What’s a piece of dental equipment that’s “always-on,” tirelessly working around the clock to keep pace with the daily demands of patient care? If you guessed the dental handpiece, then you’d be right. It’s the Energizer Bunny of the practice—or at least that’s how Dr. Susan McMahon would put it.
“My NSK handpieces are workhorses in my practice,” she said. “They just keep going and going.”
An author and lecturer, Dr. McMahon owns a cosmetic dental practice in Pittsburgh, PA, and has devoted her career to the pursuit of advanced technologies in cosmetic and minimally invasive dentistry.
“A very frequent question I get as a speaker is, ‘What bur do you use to cut off zirconia?’ There is so much zirconia being used, and removing it is hard!” she noted. “It's the handpiece that makes the difference, and the Z990L and Z890L have the power.”
Big Power, Small Package
NSK’s newest air-driven handpieces, the Ti-Max Z990L and Z890L, offer a whopping 44 watts and 41 watts of power, respectively. Designed by using the latest fluid simulation software, a DYNAMIC POWER SYSTEM converts air more efficiently into power.
“These handpieces are so powerful that they have the feel of using an electric handpiece, which is something I never thought I would find in an air-driven handpiece,” admitted Dr. McMahon.
“Other air-drivens tend to stall out when cutting very hard surfaces, which can slow down prepping."
Also new and improved is a DURAPOWER CHUCK mechanism that allows for a more sustained gripping force, reducing the risk of bur slippage compared to conventional models. A 100° angled head enables easier access and high torque cutting for efficient treatment anywhere in the oral cavity.
“NSK handpieces are famously nimble with small, perfectly angled heads, and the Z990L and Z890L are no exception,” said Dr. McMahon, who spends a lot of time prepping for multiunit and full-arch cases. “The extra power in this handpiece lets me cut these cases without hand fatigue. I can prep more efficiently and quickly, which my patients definitely appreciate. It’s also very easy on the ears.”
Built In Safety
Like all NSK handpieces, the Z990L and Z890L employ a Clean Head System. “I appreciate the anti-suckback mechanism that prevents blood and other pathogens from the oral cavity being sucked back into the handpiece head,” noted Dr. McMahon. “It gives me confidence that I am keeping my patients safe from cross-contamination.”
She concluded, “I have not found any other air-driven to be as powerful as this one.”
