Dentist Drill Application Uses Reed Sensors for Motor control

A dental drill or hand-piece is a hand-held, mechanical instrument used to perform a variety of common dental procedures, including removing decay, polishing fillings, and altering prostheses. It is usually combined with a water hose to spray water while drilling, and a light source for better illuminations around the area being worked. 

In the dentist drills, in addition to the spray of water, the work area, which is the mouth, is also a humid zone. This has to mean that the power switches and other buttons on the dentist drill needs to be sealed off from the outside. A reed sensor finds the perfect application in such a drill, to work as the power switch, which starts or stops the drilling.

Furthermore, Reed Sensors are hermetically sealed off from the atmosphere and are very suited in such high humidity applications. The life of the reed sensor is very high as there are no mechanical parts, and a reed sensor is immune to liquids like saliva and other dental mouthwashes. Since the Reed Sensor only senses low level current to trigger the relay which activates the desntist drill motor, it can withstand many millions of operations in such an application.

Application Classification

Applications are classified as Position Sensing, Pulse Counting, Electromagnetic or Relay, Temperature Sensing or Magnet Biasing types. This application is classified as follows and the link gives more information on best practices to help select the most suitable AT band and matching magnet.

Position sensing Type

When an application requires the end position of a movement sensed, or the sensing of a part when it comes into a zone, or when the Continue reading -> Jul 14, 2025

Recommended Products

The Reed Switches and Sensors used in such applications need to be robust, durable and efficient in meeting a high life expectancy. Our engineers work hard in life testing our products under various conditions, and our intention is to ensure end product durability and life. Although we wouldn’t want to restrict any of our products for use in only certain applications, the recommended products for use in this application are listed below.

Micro Miniature Reed Sensor, R3

R3S Miniature Reed Sensor drawingR3S Reed Sensor PCB Layout drawingR3F Miniature Reed Sensor drawingR3F Reed Sensor PCB Layout drawingR3 Continue reading -> Jun 18, 2025

Ultra Miniature Reed Switch, UM-0018-H

Full Length LeadsCropped LeadsSMD Formed LeadsFormed Leads for Horizontal MountingFormed Leads for Vertical Mounting starFeatures7.0 Continue reading -> Nov 30, 2024

Ultra Miniature Cylindrical Magnet Sensor, MS-212

MS-212 Magnet Sensor Drawing starFeatures10W Contact Rating. Normally Open contact. Two sensitivity bands. Sputtered Ruthenium Continue reading -> Jun 18, 2025