Electric Dental Handpieces and Electric Oral Bone-cutting Handpieces: Safety Investigation of Patient Burns
MedSun: Newsletter #53, October 2010

FDA MedWatch Safety Alert

FDA is again alerting healthcare professionals and dental organizations of a safety issue described in a 2007 Public Health Notification, "Patient Burns from Electric Dental Handpieces". These devices are AC-powered hand-held devices used to prepare dental cavities for restorations, such as fillings, and for cleaning teeth. These burns range from first degree burns to third degree burns requiring reconstructive surgery. Since the notice, the FDA has received numerous additional reports of patients being burned by electric dental handpieces.

Additional Information:

FDA MedWatch Safety Alert. Electric Dental Handpieces and Electric Oral Bone-cutting Handpieces: Safety Investigation of Patient Burns. September 24, 2010.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm227208.htm

FDA Public Health Notification: Patient Burns from Electric Dental Handpieces
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PublicHealthNotifications/ucm062018.htm