HIGH-SPEED TURBINE-DRIVEN HANDPIECE WITH AIR BEARINGS

THIS PHASE I PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE TECHNOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A HIGH-SPEED DENTAL HANDPIECE USING A RADIAL INFLOW TURBINE OPERATING IN GAS (AIR) BEARINGS. RECENT TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MINIATURIZATION OF GAS BEARINGS AND TURBINES INDICATE THAT FASTER SPEEDS AND SMALLER SIZES ARE POSSIBLE. THESE IMPROVEMENTS OFFER SEVERAL BENEFITS, INCLUDING REDUCED BURR SIZE, INCREASED CUTTING SPEED, AND IMPROVED HANDLING. THE OBJECTIVES OF PHASE I ARE TO ESTABLISH SPECIFICATIONS AND TO PERFORM PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND COSTING. THIS EFFORT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROPOSED HANDPIECE IS FEASIBLE AND WHAT DEVELOPMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE A WORKING PROTOTYPE. THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF THE PRODUCTION OF THE PROPOSED HANDPIECE INCLUDE HIGHER TORQUE, LESS COMPRESSOR POWER, LOWER NOISE, AND POTENTIALLY REDUCED DRILLING TIME.