The Star® 430 SWL StarBright® fiberoptic high-speed handpiece is designed for use in a wide range of dental restorative procedures. The push-button auto-chuck turbine is lube-free and utilizes it's Vortex Air Seal to reduce debris contamination of the turbine bearings. The handpiece can be heat sterilized in either an autoclave or chemiclave. The free running speed is reported to be 430,000 RPM @ 34 psi which was confirmed by DIS testing. The turbine is easily field replaceable to reduce handpiece down time. The handpiece is connected to the dental unit handpiece hose with Star®'s 360 Quick-Connect Swivel Coupler. The coupler provides easy handpiece interchangeability and 360-degree swivel. The Star® handpiece (including coupler) measures 12.4 cm in length and weighs 2.3 ounces. The handpiece head diameter and length measure 11 mm and 14.1 mm respectively. The distance from the back of the handpiece to the tip of a standard 19 mm bur (interocclusal clearance) is 22.2 mm. The handpiece is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for one year.
The Star® 430 SWL StarBright® fiberoptic high-speed handpiece is the only no-lube highspeed handpiece on the market. Its power, at 12.9 watts, was above average and the handpiece demonstrated excellent concentricity. It maintained 73% of it's fiberoptic intensity after 1,000 simulated clinical use/sterilization cycles. Polishing the fiberoptic lenses improved the transmission slightly to 79%. The noise level of the Star® 430SWL was measured at 69 decibels, well below the maximum 8-hour, 85-dB(A) exposure limit established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The handpiece included a push-button bur release and a 360-degree swivel coupler. Its lube free turbine is field replacable and is warranted for one year.
One hundred percent of the Star® 430 SWL test handpieces functioned after 1,000 simulated clinical use/sterilizations, but after 750 uses began to show a decrease in power. By 1,000 uses the power had degraded by 29%.
This review has been adapted from the DECS website. The DECS has no formal association with Dentalcompare or with vendors listed on dentalcompare.com. The DECS does not specifically endorse any particular product or vendor and is provided for informational purposes only.
Review Synopsis
Product
Star® 430 SWL StarBright® High-Speed Handpiece
The Good
100% of test handpieces operating after 1,000 simulated uses/sterilizations. Better than average power. Excellent concentricity. Lube-free turbine.
The Bad
A 29% reduction in power after 1,000 simulated clinical uses/sterilizations.
The Bottom Line
The Star® 430 SWL has better than average power, good longevity, and excellent concentricity, although after long use power may decrease.