Miniature Reed sensors in activating Dentist’s Drill

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 such dentist’s 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 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.
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
![]() | Position Sensing type application When an application requires the end position of a movement sensed, or the sensing of a part when it Continue reading Nov 7, 2020 |
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.
R3 Miniature SMD Reed Sensor
![]() | These miniature SMD reed sensors are designed for low power, high speed switching applications, and have a cost advantage over the Continue reading Jun 7, 2021 |
UM-0018-H Ultra Miniature Reed Switch
![]() | These highly sensitive, Ultra Miniature Form A reed switches are designed for low power, high speed switching applications and Continue reading Nov 8, 2022 |
MS-212 Ultra-miniature Cylindrical Sensor
![]() | MS-212 Magnet Sensor Drawing starFeatures10W Contact Rating. Normally Open contact. Two sensitivity bands. Sputtered Ruthenium Continue reading Oct 30, 2020 |