FDA Warns Dentists of Burns With Dental Handpieces

The FDA released a public health notification alerting dental professionals to patient burns from poorly maintained electric dental handpieces.

Patients have been severely burned when poorly maintained electric dental handpieces were used during dental procedures. Some patients had third-degree burns requiring plastic surgery, the notice said.

A poorly maintained electric handpiece does not provide a warning that maintenance is needed, it added. Instead, if an electric handpiece is worn or clogged, the electric motor sends increased power to the handpiece head or attachment to maintain handpiece performance. This increased power can rapidly generate heat at the head of the handpiece attachment.