A dental handpiece where the chip air line is selectively switched to the ON-state for using both water and chip air, and to the OFF-state for using only water. The dental handpiece has a switching valve between the circumferential chip air channel and the chip air line in the handpiece body for selectively allowing and preventing communication. Opening the valve switches the communication to the ON-state in which chip air is allowed to pass from the circumferential chip air channel into the chip air line. Closing the valve switches the communication to an OFF-state in which chip air is prevented from passing from the circumferential chip air channel into the chip air line.
