Lightweight, reliable, and built for precision—the Star 430 Series handpieces from DENTALEZ deliver the ideal balance of ergonomics and power, keeping dentists loyal for decades
The Star 430 Series air-driven handpiece feels so natural in the hands of Michael Long, DDS, that he can’t imagine using any other handpiece to perform dentistry. “The 430 is really ergonomical at this point, just an extension of my hand,” said Dr. Long, who works in a small practice in Auburn, WA, with a dental school classmate. “It's just ideal.”
He first started using this workhorse handpiece from DENTALEZ after graduating from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1994 and while teaching at the school’s restorative clinic. He has tried electric counterparts, but nothing felt quite as right as the 430 Series air-driven model.
The lightweight handpiece is offered in LubeFree and lubricated options and features a satin finish and bifurcated glass. Additionally, it is compatible with W&H couplers.
“I think the first time I used these handpieces was when I was teaching dentistry at the vocational technical college and the entire clinic had the fiber optic models,” he said. “I added them once I outfitted my own practice.”
Power, Precision, and Durability
Dr. Long likes the durability and consistent results the 430 Series delivers.
“You know exactly what it can do,” he added. “You can run it at a low stall-out speed to really refine a nice preparation or, of course, put the foot to the floor with a nice, fresh bur…and it just works spectacularly.”
Other benefits include its easy bur-swapping capabilities. In dental school, he used handpieces from another company and when it came to switching burs, they just were not as efficient. “To change burs with a button, compared to a lever, the button is just so much easier to do. It just seems to fit everywhere it needs to go,” he adds.
Another advantage of the 430 Series handpieces is the availability of replacement parts, Dr. Long said. It's easy to swap out a turbine, and with proper sterilization the handpieces “go a long time,” according to the Washington dentist.
There have been opportunities in the practice for both Dr. Long and his classmate to try out other handpieces, but the two have had no reason to switch away from the Star products.
“I think, really, for me, there's no reason to change,” Dr. Long said. “We're always seeing different manufacturers come in, sure, but I don't think there's a reason to change.”
The handpiece has a weight of 51 grams, an 11 mm head-size diameter, 16 W of power, and a no-load speed of 430,000 rpm.
A Trusted Choice
Like Dr. Long, Dr. R.J. Sondkar, who has a solo practice in San Leandro, CA, has been using the Star 430 SWL for several years and appreciates its performance. His first experience with the handpiece was as a student at University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.
“They’re solid performers," Dr. Sondkar said. "They’re lightweight, dependable, and well balanced. I’ve tried other brands, and this is still my go to.”
He agrees with Dr. Long that the Star handpieces feel just right in the hand, all the while delivering the power needed to perform efficient dentistry. “I like the balance of how it feels in your hand,” he said. “The grip is like holding a pen, which can feel comfortable. Having tried other brands that have been installed, it’s much lighter than most other brands of that quality.”
With ceramic bearings, the 430 Series handpieces are easy to maintain and durable, Dr. Sondkar added, and he matches its performance with more expensive models he has tried out. That explains why he has stuck with these DENTALEZ models for so long in his practice.
