Abstract: A dental handpiece has a head housing having a turbine chamber and an annular channel. First and second bearings are provided on opposite sides of the turbine chamber in the head housing. An air-driven turbine rotor is arranged in the turbine chamber and supported on the first and second bearings. A rotor spindle is driven by the air-driven turbine and drives, in turn, a tool. The first bearing is positioned proximal to the tool and the second bearing is positioned distal to the tool. The head housing has a drive air channel guiding drive air to the air-driven turbine rotor and a return channel for the drive air. A hollow space is provided in the head housing in which an actuator for the tool holder of the tool is arranged. Several air-permeable connecting channels connect a radially outer area of the turbine chamber to the hollow space or the annular channel or both.