The invention refers to a dental or surgical handpiece comprising a head, which serves to receive a tool, and a connector sleeve, which is intended for coupling the handpiece to a drive motor, wherein the head and the connector sleeve are connected by a connecting piece and the connecting piece accommodates a drivetrain which serves to transmit rotational energy from the connector sleeve into the head for driving the tool, characterized in that the handpiece has a RFID transponder and a plastic casing delimiting the handpiece, and the RFID transponder is protected by the plastic casing.