Ready to set-up a home lab for creating the perfect starter bench test kit to master the Bench Test? Bench test practice takes time, and the things you practice is yours forever, so Dr. Alyssa recommends applicants start their preparation as early as possible. How else will you get ahead? Setting a home-lab can sound daunting, so we’ve put together a list to give you a jump for creating the perfect starter bench test kit. You’ll need more things as you go, but with the material below you’ll get started, and you can get more things as the need comes up. We do not sell anything ourselves, but included links to the items for your convenience.
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Components for creating the Perfect Starter Bench Test Kit
Please note: All links to 3rd party sites are affiliate links, meaning that if those links are used to purchase, International Dentist Central will receive a small percentage of the sale amount. While the total price will be the same whether you use our affiliate links or not, if you’d like to opt-out of using the affiliate links, please simply search Ebay or Amazon for the name of the product we recommend. Learn more about our Affiliate Partner Disclosures.
- Air compressor
- Highly recommend getting a silent compressor, even they are noisy.
- No need for a higher-end compressor made for dentistry as we’re practicing on typodonts
- Dental Turbine Unit (Buy on eBay)
- This will allow for the air from the compressor to power the handpiece.
- Want help hooking things up?: Check out our Dental Turbine Unit to Compressor Connection Guide
Recommended Combo: Air Compress + Dental Turbine Unit 
- High-speed Handpiece (Buy on eBay)
- Huge range of quality and price.
- The cheaper is expected to break down, but the starting price-point for a handpiece that’s built to last longer is about $500. This cost is much higher than purchasing several of the lower end ones.
- You’ll likely not use the handpiece you purchase at this time after you start school, due to school policies.
- If you have a 2 hole from your country I’d recommend purchasing a 4 hole over getting a converter. 4 hole handpieces are much smoother, it’s hard to do good preps with 2 hole handpieces
- Turbine to compressor connector
- Visit your local hardware store with the tubing from the turbine unit. The compressor side needs a 1/4″ quick-release. Read more
- Typodonts
- Columbia Typodont (Buy Used on eBay or New)
- Kilgore Typodont (Buy Used on eBay or New)
- About half of the programs use Columbia and half Kilgore. The teeth don’t cross-fit unfortunately.
- The consistency of the teeth are different, so practicing on both typodonts are highly recommended
- Extra Teeth
- Typodont Mounting Pole (Buy on eBay)
- Mouth Mirror
- Explorer / Probe (Buy on eBay)
- You could get a probe and explorer separately if you want, but this serves both purposes
- Hatchet
- Mesial Margin Trimmer
- Distal Margin Trimmer
- Burs
- Amalgam Capsules (Buy on eBay)
- Required for practicing amalgam restorations
- Amalgamator (Buy on eBay)
- Essential for activating amalgam capsules to practice amalgam restorations
*If you find a link that doesn’t work, please let us know by leaving a comment below so we can fix it.
Related Articles:
- Online Bench Test Courses
- Best Dental Loupes for Students
- Why Programs Have Such Different Bench Tests
The links don’t seem to work.
Thank you for letting us know. We´ll take a look
Hi, dental turbine link is not working. Thank you
Hi Bren,
Thanks for the headsup with this!
links are not working
Hi Sehlina! Thanks for informing us. We have updated the links. It’s all good now.
Hello,
Which magnification for dental loupes is better 2.5 or 3.5 for bench test prep?
Magnification is more of a matter of preference, one is not better than the other. It takes longer to get used to 3.5 magnification and you’ll also need more light and better quality loupes in general. 2.5 is easier to get used to and not as tricky to get started with. But 3.5 loupes will magnify things larger than 2.5 will.
Hi,
I have a California Air tool compressor 8010 which is 8 gallon.What pressure should I set it to?It says do not change factory settings which is set to 115 to 120psi.
Hi Khan! You may want to check this article to guide you with that:
https://internationaldentistcentral.com/connecting-a-turbine-to-compressor/
Excellent, what a weblog it is! This blog provides helpful facts
to us, keep it up.
Happy to know you found it helpful!
Hi , the air compressor link is not working.
Link has been updated 🙂 Thanks for letting us know!
When I search for columbia 860 teeth, most of results route to Ivorine like on ebay. Should I buy there? or buy original from Columbia website?
Hi,
I want to know about the lighting system thats best to use while practicing at home.
Hey Jasjot, any good desk lamp with a flexible neck should do. We personally like these Jansjo lights made by Ikea as they don’t get too hot (LED) and offer great flexibility. We find that 2 of them work better than 1 because you can eliminate shadows caused by just 1 of them.
Jasjot LED Lights
The link of how to connect the turbine to the compressor doesn’t work. can you fix it please!
Should be working now – thanks!
Any air compressor is compatible with the dental turbine unit or are there specifications?
Yes most any air compressor you can buy online or at a Home Depot like store use the same fittings and are thus comparable. However, you will need to purchase a few parts at the hardware store to connect them. Neither of which come with either the turbine unit or air compressor.
More info here: https://internationaldentistcentral.com/connecting-your-turbine-to-your-compressor/
Hi.. Does 1 gallon California compressor works or I need to get the 8 gallon one ?
Hi Roger! The smaller one will work but will frequently stop to refill itself with air to power the handpiece. Larger capacity ones won’t have that problem.
Can you please specify which burs are used for what purpose, that would really mean alot
When buying a mounting pole should we look for one with the entire face and cheeks etc? Or practicing on the jaws only sufficient?
I am interested in this bench kit, how can I get them?
Hi there, we don’t sell them – you could get things individually off eBay or Amazon, or you could visit a local dental school student store.