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Final answer:The air-driven turbine dental handpiece, a significant advancement in dental technology, was introduced in 1950. It revolutionized dental care by offering high-speed, precise treatments, dramatically enhancing patient comfort and treatment outcomes.Explanation:The introduction of the air-driven turbine dental handpiece revolutionized the field of dentistry, offering dentists the ability to perform procedures with greater precision and efficiency than was possible with earlier tools. The correct answer to the question is 1950. This innovation came about through the efforts of Dr. John Patrick Walsh and was subsequently developed with the collaboration of John Borden. It allowed dentists to perform dental procedures at high speeds, significantly reducing treatment time and improving patient comfort. The air-driven turbine works by propelling a small turbine at high speeds, which in turn drives the dental drill bit. This technology marked a significant advancement over electric and belt-driven handpieces previously used.Before the air-driven turbine, dental procedures were often more time-consuming and less comfortable for patients. The efficiency of dental treatments saw dramatic improvements with its introduction. Not only did it lead to faster decay removal, but it also enhanced the precision with which dentists could work, directly influencing the quality of dental care and patient outcomes. The advent of this technology is a key milestone in the history of dentistry, underscoring its evolution towards more progressive and patient-friendly techniques....