Closed loop speed control for a pneumatic dental handpiece

A system for remotely monitoring the rotational speed of a rotating tip of a pneumatic dental handpiece, comprising:

• a dental handpiece having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a rotating tip located at the distal end of the handpiece;
• a fluid supply;
• a fluid conduit connected to the proximal end of the handpiece to provide fluid communication from the fluid supply to the handpiece to drive the rotating tip;
• a means for detecting a periodic function of the handpiece indicative of the rotating tip speed of the tip, a valve to control the flow of fluid from the fluid supply into the handpiece;
• and
• a controller in communication with the means for detecting the periodic function of the handpiece and with the valve, wherein the controller receives a signal from the means for detecting the periodic function, calculates the rotational speed of the tip, compares the calculated speed to a preset speed range, and adjusts the valve to meter fluid to the handpiece as required so that the calculated rotating speed of the tip is within the preset speed range.