Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to the questions we hear most!
Is it better to repair or replace my old dental handpiece?
In most cases, professional repair saves 70–90% compared to buying new. Our technicians can evaluate your handpiece and provide honest advice — repair, rebuild, or replace.
What are the signs my dental handpiece needs repair?
- Reduced power or slow cutting.
- Excessive noise or vibration.
- Water spray issues or leaks
Overheating. - Difficulty installing burs.
- Loss of fiber optic light.
If you notice any of these, send it in for professional dental handpiece repair before it fails completely.
Do you offer electric handpiece repair?
Yes! We specialize in electric handpiece repair for popular models like NSK NLX, Kavo MASTERtorque, Bien-Air, and A-dec electric systems. Electric dental handpiece repair requires specialized tools and expertise with motors, electronics, and fiber optics.
What is dental handpiece repair?
Dental handpiece repair is the professional process of restoring high-performance dental drills (handpieces) to like-new condition. This includes fixing high speed handpieces, low speed handpieces, electric handpieces, and surgical handpieces. Services typically cover turbine replacement, bearing replacement, chuck repair, water spray issues, and full rebuilds.
How much does high speed handpiece repair cost?
High speed handpiece repair usually ranges from $129 per handpiece depending on the brand (Kavo, NSK, W&H, Midwest, Star, Bien-Air, etc.) and extent of damage. Estimates are free and usually same or next business day once it reaches us.
How long does dental handpiece repair take?
2–3 business days on the bench. Add transit each way — typically a couple of days in each direction on the prepaid label, though that part is the carrier’s clock, not ours.
Bench time is the repair itself: cleaned, rebuilt, then run under load and checked for speed, torque and spray pattern before it goes back in the box. We’d rather add a day than send you something that fails in week two.
Complex rebuilds and anything waiting on a sourced part can run longer — we tell you at the estimate stage, before you commit.
In a hurry? Rush service is $99 per handpiece: same-day estimate and 48-hour turnaround on the bench. Order must be in by 12pm MST to start the same day.
Do you repair all brands of dental handpieces?
Yes. We service virtually all major brands including Kavo, NSK, W&H, Midwest, Star Dental, Bien-Air, Sirona, Lares, Henry Schein, and more. Whether it’s high speed, low speed, or electric handpiece repair, we’ve got you covered.
How often should I service my dental handpieces?
We recommend professional maintenance every 6–12 months or after approximately 500–1000 sterilization cycles. Preventive dental handpiece repair and cleaning significantly extends the life of your investment and prevents costly breakdowns.
How do I ship my handpieces for repair?
Simply package your handpieces securely (we recommend bubble wrap and a sturdy box) and include a note with your contact info. We provide a free prepaid USPS shipping label to send your handpiece to our office, regardless of order value. Once your repair is complete, we ship it back to you via UPS or FedEx. Fast turnaround on dental handpiece repair.
Always ship with the prepaid label we email you. It’s how we identify your handpiece, track it, and cover the cost of getting it to us. If you don’t have a label yet, request one — it goes out the same business day.
Can you repair fiber optic and LED dental handpieces?
Absolutely. We expertly repair fiber optic bundles, LED lights, and electrical connections in both high speed and electric handpieces. Dim or non-working lights are one of the most common issues we fix.
What happens if my handpiece can't be repaired?
If our inspection finds a handpiece isn’t a good candidate for dental handpiece repair — due to irreparable damage or cost — we’ll contact you before any work begins. You can have it returned (shipping at your expense) or disposed of. Labor charges from the handpiece repair evaluation are typically refunded at our discretion; parts costs are generally non-refundable.
How should I package my handpiece for shipping to a repair shop?
Proper packaging protects your investment during dental handpiece repair shipping. Use a sturdy box or padded bubble mailer — paper envelopes aren’t accepted and put turbines, bearings, and fiber optics at risk. Pack items so they can’t shift, and include a completed Service Request Form. We’re not responsible for damage caused by improper packaging before your handpiece repair order arrives.
Do you sell dental equipment like chairs, lights, etc??
Yes. Beyond high speed handpiece turbine repair and electric handpiece repair, we sell new dental equipment. Buy from us and get seamless access to our full-service expertise for ongoing maintenance.
I'm outside Colorado — can you still handle my dental handpiece repair?
Absolutely. We provide free nationwide shipping for dental handpiece repair, serving practices in all 50 states — not just Colorado Springs and the Front Range. Every high speed handpiece turbine repair or electric handpiece repair order gets a free estimate and our industry-leading 6-month warranty, no matter where you’re located.
How do I file a warranty claim on a turbine repair or handpiece repair?
Contact us with your original dental handpiece repair order details. Ship the handpiece back using our approved label, and we’ll inspect the turbine repair or handpiece repair and respond promptly. Approved warranty claims are fixed at no additional charge, subject to our warranty terms.
Are you the same company as Essential Dental Repairs?
No. Essential Handpiece Repairs is an independent shop in Colorado Springs, Colorado, founded in 2019. Essential Dental Repairs, LLC is a separate, unaffiliated company located in Florida — we share no ownership, staff, pricing, warranty, or shipping.
Because the names are similar, a few customers have sent handpieces to the wrong company by accident. The simplest check: ship only with the free prepaid label we email you, and it will always say Colorado Springs, CO. Here’s how to tell us apart.
Do you repair dental chairs, lights or other equipment?
No. We repair handpieces only — high speed, low speed, electric, endo, surgical and sonic scalers. We do sell new equipment; see our Dental Equipment & Supplies page.
Questions about a handpiece? Drop us a note!
Drop your questions below or send photos of your dental handpieces for a free repair quote. We specialize in fast, reliable electric handpiece repair, high speed handpiece repair, and full-service dental handpiece repair nationwide.