Air compressors are significant in various industries; it hasn’t forsaken medicine and dentistry to illuminate with its sparkle. It has been vastly used in medical and dental clinics to power the tools and purify the air. You might be wondering what type of compressors are used in medicine and where. So we have made a complete guide to medical and dental air compressors.

The first thing you need to know is what type of air compressors are used in the medical and dental fields. Here is a breakdown of a few medical and dental air compressors. 

Oil free screw air compressor

Such types of air compressors are used in setups that have a vast air demand. It includes two rotors that are responsible for reducing the air volume. These air compressors make less noise and work quietly. 

As the name implies, it is oil-free, so there are fewer contamination and impurities. Moreover, oil-free screw compressors are energy efficient and save you from higher costs. These air compressors are not only used in clinical settings but inside the medical equipment as well. 

Oil-free Tooth Compressor

It is typically used in dental clinics to power dental equipment. The compressor is easy to use and maintain. Like a screw compressor, it also doesn’t make any sound. The contamination risk is also lesser in these types of compressors. 

Lubricated Reciprocating Air Compressor

These are used in the patient’s room or laboratories to provide purified and clean medical air. When a large amount of purified air is needed in intermittent cycling, lubricated reciprocating compressors distribute medical quality air. 

As it is a lubricated compressor, some contamination may be present. Unlike the compressors mentioned earlier, this unit can make some noise and disturb the patients. So make your choice accordingly.

Oil-free scroll compressor

The oil-free scroll compressor is one of the most common types of compressor used in the medical industry. It comprises a stationary and a moving scroll that helps in moving surgical equipment, powering incubators, and operating ventilators.

Such compressors are ideal for small clinical settings. Being smaller, they are easier to operate and require low maintenance. Moreover, the compressor makes less noise as compared to conventional air compressors. 

To clear up your confusion, let’s see where air compressors are used in different fields of the medical industry. 

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is a vast field in the medical industry, and it is growing with the coming day. With its increased demand, the equipment used in physical therapy is also advancing. Although the equipment used in clinical settings is similar to those used in the gym, the advanced tools are medical grade. 

While conducting an exercise on patients, the safety of patients is a priority of most physical therapists. Air compressors are a safe and reliable option to provide resistance to the patients during resistive exercises. It not only offers safety to the patient but the physical therapist himself. 

Previously, when there were no compressors, physical therapists resisted the patient themselves. It cured the patient but developed problems such as back pain in the therapists as the resistive exercise demands excessive force. 

Lithotripsy

Lithotripsy is an advanced technology in the medical field that uses shock waves to dissolve the stones in the renal system. Kidney stones were a serious issue before lithotripsy came in. And medical compressors have made this magic happen. 

Pneumatic compressors are used to dissolve kidney stones through compressed air. It causes mechanical vibration, which acts on kidney stones and dissolves them. 

Orthopedics 

Many orthopedic conditions can now get cured by using air compressors. Calcaneal spur is a common orthopedic condition in the U.S. due to women wearing more high heels. This leads to a ligament strain, which is treated by compressed air shock waves. The use of the compressed air system subsides the need for an anesthetic.

Tennis elbow is another condition that results from overuse of the elbow joint. It is named so, as it is common in tennis players. It leads to swelling of the tendon, which compressed air shock waves can treat. Other conditions include patellar apex syndrome and rotator cuff syndrome.

Respiratory therapy

Medical air compressors aid the patient with breathing whose respiratory muscles are weakened or failed. It manages to deliver high-quality oxygen to the patients. 

In hospital setups, where clean and purified air is required, air compressors aid in removing the impurities from the air and deliver cleaned air to the patients. It protects the patient against hospital-acquired pneumonia. Moreover, air compressors also power the ventilators. 

Surgical equipment

Air compressors are also used to sterilize surgical equipment. It makes sure that the surgical tools are free of any bacteria or airborne particles to prevent infection in the patient.

Additionally, air compressors power the devices used during surgery. Even handheld tools, i.e., drills and suction tubes, are powered by air compressors to provide efficient performance. 

Veterinary clinics

Air compressors have now also stepped into veterinary clinics. As the vets have become popular, they need advanced tools to achieve their tasks. Pets also need respiratory therapy and surgeries, for which air compressors are used.

Medical grade air compressors are equipped in clinical settings to provide a pollution-free environment to pets. Moreover, rehabilitation equipment for pets is also powered through air compressors.

Here is where the air compressors are used in dental clinics. 

Power the dental tools

Like medical equipment, dental tools are also powered through air compressors. It requires the power of one horsepower to five horsepower to run the tools smoothly. Moreover, compressed air provides a more efficient procedure than any other source.

Milling and grinding

Air compressors are used in the milling process to cut crowns and bridges. The process requires constant pressure, which is provided by air compressors. The grinding machine, on the other hand, also involves air compressors to provide high quality compressed air and pressure.