Dremal tool as a dental drill

[tangent]

Dan had mentioned using a portable, battery charged, Dremal Tool w/ flex shaft and angle head as a dental drill. I was hopeing we could entice him into sharing some of his experiences with this tool, in this application. - Well Dan?

In particular:
how recharged in the field?
speed?
sterilization issues?
what grinding tips?
how long at a time can you use it before it needs recharging?
recharging time?
anything else?

thanks!

[Javahed]

Well,

The time I used it was to smooth down the rough edges of some broken teeth that were abrading the interior of a patient's mouth. The attachments were a couple of small diamond burrs and a small sanding head. No dentin was exposed so the procedure was pretty simple. I wish I could claim having the forsight to have brought that, but I snagged it from the team engineer. With all the different attachments - I'm sure with a little practice we could be putting gemstones and initials in patient's teeth :grin:

Check This site (http://www.shahak.co.il/dental/catalog.htm) for a bunch of dental power tool bits - and then hit Home Depot and check the Dremel section - very similar.

Most of my field dental work is done with the basic stuff, Eugenol, IRM, marcaine/bupivicaine. A PERIOSTEAL ELEVATOR #9 is my real money maker, along with a woodson(SP?) elevator and #150, 151 forceps.

Dan

_________________
www.gogetemgear.com (http://www.gogetemgear.com)

[tangent]

hmm - so you don't currently carry a dremal for dental work and know of no one that does?

be querious what you do carry for a dental kit and a breakdown of what you do most - dental wise....

how much do you use the ART technique?

[cayoung]

My meory of the dremel tool (back in the 60's my Dad had one to make jewelry out of wood) was that it looked too large to fit in the mouth. Though, it was the same idea.

By recharging, I presume you are operating in some country which doesn't have 110V, 60 Hz back at the hotel.

I can imagine that you can do some good with such a tool. If you have a steady hand, and a trusting patient. And a lot of skill. A couple weeks as a dental assistant (and a lot of watching) would be good, too.

Been under the dentist a few times these last years, and I agree that slow speed is miserable. Really echoes through my head.

Also, when the drilled tooth is hot, it means another syringe is needed. In my case, my nerve isn't where it should be.

[tangent]

note flex shaft (and angle head) - you don't put the dremel tool in the mouth. drop by a hardware store and take a look at one, next time you pass one...