Hand pieces and Preparations

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Us D1s started operative recently. I am trying to get some advice on class 1 preparations. I know we have a high and slow speed handpick and many students use both for their preparations. I wonder if it would be possible to only use high speed for the entire prep? I find that when I use the high speed hand piece on very slow speed (press less on the foot pedal) it works pretty well for smoothing the pupal floor and axial walls. I use the 329 bud for the initial outline and then the 330 high speed on slow speed to smoothen everything on a molar. Anybody who does the same?
 
Doing what you described with your high speed will shorten the life of the handpiece. Best practice is to press down fully on the rheostat and use manufacturer min/max RPM's for whatever handpiece you're using.

I suggest using the high speed to get a rough outline form and go to a depth ~0.5mm short of where you want to be. Then, break out that slow speed to smooth the axial walls and floor with a carbide 57 latchkey bur @ ~10k rpm [don't forget your hand positioning to make convergence or divergence b/c 57 is a straight bur] You will make some beautiful preps!!!
 
I don't like the slow speed because I'd rather just lightly press the pedal on high speed. It's basically the same thing except you have the option of using water and handpiece light. I like to turn off the water and press the pedal just hard enough for the light to come on when using the high speed instrument at slow speed. The slow speed instrument also feels too thumpy so I try to avoid unless I have to use it.

Going with the slow speed is a safer choice for someone at the starting stage or if you have a lot of smoothing to do.
 
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I'm late to the show here, but I think practicing doing the whole thing with the high-speed is better because you will not be cutting enamel with a slow-speed on real teeth. It will just take entirely too long.
 
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