Practice Tips #90: Stuck Chuck? You're in Luck!

Do you have a stuck chuck? You're in luck! Wrench (or “standard”) chuck handpieces have their perks and benefit your dental practice. They have a lower cost and are more reliable, because they have fewer moving parts. They are also simpler to maintain as you can free up a stuck chuck using a ¼” open-end wrench.

Back in Practice Tip #63, we discussed the different chucking mechanisms used on high-speed handpieces. This month, we’ll outline the precise technique to use a common hand tool to free up a stuck wrench chuck.

Fixing Your Handpiece

First, if having trouble changing a bur, make sure your bur wrench functions properly. The central shaft of the wrench should be solid and not rotate independently of the handle. Check your wrench using a pliers.

PHOTO: Bur wrench (#15-71)

Just grasp the central shaft with a pliers and attempt to spin the handle. If you can spin the handle while holding the central shaft, the wrench is stripped (worn) and should be discarded. Replace with a new wrench. Generally, if the wrench strips, you can tell. The wrench spins freely when engaged in the handpiece, but the bur will not loosen.

If the shaft is solid and you are still unable to open the chuck, the chuck is likely jammed and/or just stuck. In order to open it, you’ll just need more leverage. You can get more leverage by using a ¼” open-end wrench on the handle of the bur wrench. Do this by placing the wrench over the handle as illustrated below:

Chuck Still Stuck?

Are you still having problems opening the chuck? You’ll need to use a second wrench to hold the spindle steady, while opening the chuck. It will be necessary to steady your handpiece by resting it on a table or counter top. Hold the handpiece and wrench with one hand, while turning the wrench on the handle with your other hand.

During use, debris gets lodged in the handpiece chuck causing it to stick. The bur can also get jammed in if the handpiece is dropped, bumped, or jarred. Using the techniques illustrated above, you can still un stuck your handpiece chuck. This frees up your handpiece and restores it to proper function quickly and easily.