Understanding all the parts of a veterinary dental machine will help keep the equipment in good shape to provide optimal patient care. This knowledge can also come in handy when it’s time to buy a new system or for troubleshooting when your dental unit malfunctions.

Here are the key veterinary dental machine parts with which veterinary team members should be familiar, and a few tips for maintaining the equipment in good working order…

Power Equipment of a Veterinary Dental Machine

Dental equipment used during cleaning, polishing, and procedures like extractions include…

• Ultrasonic scaler. An ultrasonic scaler is used to quickly and efficiently remove large amounts of dental calculus. They’re powered by electricity and convert sound waves into physical vibrations. 

These scalers are especially valuable for supragingival use but can also be used subgingivally with a periodontal tip. 

The most popular types of ultrasonic scalers are probably piezoelectric and magnetostrictive. The former pairs with tips, while the latter requires an insert. They must have water flow to function properly and reduce heat injuries, and some include built-in LED lighting.

• High-speed handpiece. A high-speed handpiece offers rapid rotations for use with dental burs (also known as “drill bits”). Uses include surgical extractions (removing alveolar bone, exposing tooth roots, and sectioning teeth) as well as softening sharp bone edges prior to closing a surgical extraction site. 

There are many different kinds of burs available for different purposes, not to mention different sizes. Water flow is necessary to prevent overheating. 

• Low-speed handpiece. A low-speed handpiece is used with a prophy angle for polishing the teeth after scaling. 

• Air/Water syringe. The water aspect of this tool is used for irrigating any areas being worked on (such as an extraction site) or flushing debris in general. The air component can be used for drying as needed, although it’s recommended to avoid using it in open surgical sites (to prevent air embolism). 

• Suction tool. Some dental units offer a suction component. Weak suction can be a convenient way to remove fluids such as water, blood, and saliva.

• Air compressor. A compressor pressurizes air for use with handpieces or other components that are air-powered. 

Some compressors require oil (which must be changed at regular intervals), while others are air-cooled. Either way, it’s good to drain moisture out of the system each day it’s used, and to check for air leaks from time to time.

• Water bottles. A reservoir is required for the distilled water that flows through some of the tools, such as the ultrasonic scaler, the drill/high-speed handpiece, and the water/air syringe. Have refills available during procedures. And allow the unit to dry when not in use.

Additional Veterinary Dental Equipment

In addition to the dental unit components mentioned above, the following equipment is important for dental procedures…

• Hand tools. While ultrasonic scalers are great, hand scaling is still part of any dental cleaning. This includes hand scalers for reaching calculus in tight spots or anything the ultrasonic scaler missed and curettes for subgingival work. Also think of mirrors, probes, and anything else that might be needed. 

Have several sizes available, based on the types of patients your clinic sees.

• Suture kit. A suture or minor surgery kit is helpful for dental extractions, especially when a gingival flap must be created. This could include things like forceps, gauze, scissors, etc.

• Extraction tools. Think of elevators, luxators, extraction forceps, and burs in various sizes (and shapes, in the case of dental burs). Autoclave in packs when it makes sense to do so, or separately for items that are used less often.

• Replacement parts. A quick online search reveals a wealth of replacement parts available for veterinary dental machines: everything from turbines for high-speed handpieces, to hoses and connections, to replacement switches, gaskets, and o-rings. 

Depending on the knowledge and comfort level of the veterinary team, it might make sense to keep some of these replacement parts on hand in case an urgent replacement is needed (so dental procedures don’t need to be canceled in case of a mechanical malfunction that can be easily corrected). 

• Manual. It’s probably best to locate the instruction manual for your practice’s dental unit (and all its many parts) BEFORE anything happens. That can allow for a better overall understanding of the machine, including how to properly clean and maintain everything so they’ll last longer and perform better. 

If the manual is lost, contact the manufacturer or search online—there are “libraries” of manuals for all sorts of equipment available online.

Keeping Your Veterinary Dental Machine Happy and Healthy

Get to know your machine and all its components. Each component might come with its own unique instructions for maintenance and optimal operation. For example, this might include specific cleaning instructions, knowing when to replace worn tips and burs, and knowing how to sharpen hand tools after each use. Keeping a log can help. 

See if there’s a technically-minded team member who is comfortable doing minor repairs or parts replacements. Or, if technical support from the manufacturer isn’t available (or is subpar), see if you can find a local repair person to help. 

Becoming familiar with all the components of a veterinary dental machine can help prevent frustrations as much as possible while maximizing efficiency and delivering excellent patient care. 

Written by: Dr. Tammy Powell, DVM