LabPro (2012 PPL)

++++1/2

• 
  The award of Editors' Choice signifies the most unique and significant product in the issue. The editors review each product and clinical evaluation article scheduled for an issue and then select the issue's Editors' Choice.
           
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  Preferred Products are selected by Dr. John Farah and the staff of THE DENTAL ADVISOR. These products are featured each year in the January-February issue of THE DENTAL ADVISOR.
         

Consultants' Comments

• “Very quiet operation – no vibration.”
• “Easy to adjust speed.”
• “This is by far the smoothest lab handpiece I have ever used.”
• “No control box on the bench top - saves space.”
• “Great balance and torque.”
• “I prefer a ‘gas pedal’ style foot control over the left/right lever.”

Description

LabPro is a lightweight and compact, brushless laboratory handpiece system. It is available with foot or knee control and has a speed range of 1,000-50,000 rpm with a maximum torque of 8.7 Ncm. It features a brushless micro-motor and a dust-proof mechanism that blows the dust away from the working area. The system evaluated included the foot control unit, handpiece, handpiece stand, power cord, spanner wrench, L-spanner wrench, operator's manual, and product literature. LabPro was evaluated by three dental offices and three dental laboratories with 15 consultants in 3325 uses. It received a 93% clinical rating.

Equipment Features

Consultants reported that LabPro had smooth operation with noteworthy balance and torque. Operation of the foot control is sensitive - a small shift in the left/right lever produces a dramatic increase in speed. It is necessary to tap the control to disengage the motor when finished. The unit is so quiet that consultants reported that sometimes it was inadvertently left running. The optional knee control unit offers a digital display of speed, but the foot control unit does not. Forty-seven percent of consultants reported that the LabPro was better than their current laboratory handpiece and 47% reported it was equivalent. Seventy-three percent would switch to the LabPro and 80% would recommend it.