Product Evaluation

Reduced noise and increased cutting power combine to enhance both the clinician and patient experience

Dental professionals use handpieces every day—several times a day. What works well in the hands of one dentist may not meet the requirements of another. However, almost everyone can agree that what they’re looking for is smooth operation, ease of maneuverability, and as little noise as possible. They also want a handpiece that will stand the test of time and survive prolonged use.

Reem Mahjoub, DMD, was encountering “loose burs” in her current handpiece, and Dr. Christina Tran was looking for consistent performance. Dr. John Jackfert described wanting “a smoother, quieter, lighter handpiece,” and Dr. Etta Lobel was hoping for “better torque.” For Dr. Nate Lewis, the issue he wanted to solve was “speed and loudness.” In addition, a few evaluators said they weren’t facing any particular challenges with their current handpieces but were excited to try something new.

Henry Schein’s Maxima Advanced High-Speed Air Handpiece offers several features—cutting power, quiet operation, aerosol reduction, antislip grip, Active-Stop Technology, and a versatile RPM range—all of which address many of these evaluators’ challenges, and then some. Just ask Dr. Jackfert, who said, “The handpiece ran very smoothly [and] it felt comfortable in my hands.” 

Smoothness of Operation and Cutting Power

A handpiece that offers a smooth ride benefits both clinicians and patients. For dentists, it means less wear and tear on their hands and wrists and smoother procedures. For patients, it means a less stressful experience in the dental chair. And cutting speed can enhance the efficiency of procedures so that patients can get on with their day more quickly and dentists can move on to caring for the next patient. The ultimate win-win.

Dr. Lewis described the Maxima Advanced as “smooth and quiet,” and Dr. James Snow said he experienced “no bouncing or vibration.” When using it “to remove an existing bridge and to prep,” he shared, “it worked very well and did not burn through a lot of burs. It also kept chair time minimal.”

The Maxima Advanced has “much more improved cutting and speed compared to previous handpieces,” said Dr. Tran. “It allowed me to prep faster and decrease the amount of time the patient is in the chair.” She added that she prefers a smaller hand-piece head for easy access to difficult-to-reach areas.

Dr. Mahjoub, who said she would recommend it to her colleagues, appreciated its “comfort in my hand during restorations.” The Maxima Advanced also addressed her concerns about loose burs with her previous handpiece. “Burs did not get loose in the [Maxima Advanced]; it had a strong hold on the burs,” she shared.

Quiet Operation

“The Maxima Advanced handpiece is so quiet!” exclaimed Dr. Lobel when asked what she liked best about the handpiece. When using it for a crown prep, she said it was “so quiet through the whole operation.” Dr. Tran agreed, describing the quietness of the handpiece as what she liked best.

The noise of a handpiece can set every-one’s teeth on edge—both clinicians and patients—so any reduction in noise can make chairside procedures less stressful all around. According to Henry Schein, the Maxima Advanced offers a 12% reduction in noise compared to the previous Maxima handpiece model.

When asked to recommend improvements, Dr. Jackfert, who gave the handpiece an overall satisfaction rating of very good, said that he thought it “could be quieter.” Dr. Rick Adelstein said he would recommend the handpiece to his colleagues but also said that he wished it was “quieter.”

Grip and Handling

“I loved the textured grip" of the Maxima Advanced Handpiece," said Dr. Jackfert. “I also felt the water spray didn’t drown the patient, and there was very little water that would splash up.” Dr. Tran, who rated her overall satisfaction with the Maxima Advanced as very good, noted that she would like a “better grip for more stability when prepping.” When asked what she liked best about the handpiece, Dr. Beena Lad said, “It was small and easy to hold.”

Hoping for better “feeling and maneuverability with a handpiece,” Dr. Albert Lee described the Maxima Advanced as “nice, easy to move around, and comfortable to use. I’m used to electric handpieces, so it was a bit different in a good way. [It had a] nice touch and feel.”

Overall Satisfaction

Maxima Advanced is available with a standard or mini head and with or without optics. “I work in a pediatric practice, and kids are constantly moving their heads and tongues around,” said Dr. Jackfert. “I loved how this handpiece would stop on the drop of a dime to prevent any iatrogenic damage to the tongue, mucosa, and teeth. I felt more confident and could work quicker knowing that once my foot left the pedal, the handpiece would immediately stop rotating.” In addition, he said, “The 2-year warranty is a very nice plus.”

“Overall, the Maxima Advanced handpiece was good,” said Dr. Mahjoub. “It had a clean, smooth appearance and felt good in the hand.” Calling it a “great product” that he would recommend to his dental colleagues, Dr. Lewis declared, “It’s comparable with my [current handpiece brand] and better than other brands.”