A dental prophylaxis angle includes a body, a drive gear and a driven gear. The body has a sleeve with an open rear end, a neck, a head, and an axial neck and head bore that communicate with each other at an intersection. A channel extends through the body. The drive gear is adapted to be inserted into the body through the head. The drive gear includes a gear, an intermediate portion and a shaft. The shaft extends rotatably from the open rear end of the sleeve, through the neck bore, and into the head bore. The intermediate portion further includes an angled leading edge. The driven gear is rotatably mounted in the head and operatively connected to the drive gear. The body further includes a lip extending into the channel. The lip is adapted to be received by the groove when the drive gear is inserted through said head.
