Abstract: A sterilizable vacuum handpiece that may include a base unit reversibly coupled to a handle unit, having a central vacuum passage connecting proximal and distal ends. A hand-removable base unit valve may divide a base unit vacuum passage and a hand-removable handle unit valve may separate a handle unit vacuum passage, in adjustable fluid communication with each other. The valves may be retained within bores and counter-bores, and may achieve fluid-tight fit with O-rings retained within the valves. The valves may have vacuum passages with surface areas greater than or equal to a least diameter of the vacuum passage containing the valve. In at least one embodiment, the handle valve is releasably retained by the opposing ends of a “bucket-handle” shaped controller. Alternatively, the handpiece may be formed as a single combined unit, where the terms base unit and handle unit refer only to regions of an otherwise unified structure.