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Written by Jess Cilenti |
Written On March 28, 2022 |
Dental burs are a tiny aspect of dentistry with a very large impact. The type of bur you use has a massive impact on the level of treatment you are able to provide to your patients. Today, we’re going over the basics of choosing (and using) the burs that work best for you.
Dental Bur Basics
- Shank: The longest part of the bur which is inserted directly into the handpiece
- Neck: Connective bit between the shank and the head
- Head: The part of the bur which features the blade, which rotates to manipulate tooth structure
There are three types of shanks:
- Long Straight Shank (HP): Fit into the nose cone of the slow speed handpiece once the contra angle is removed.
- Latch-Type Shank (RA): Fit into the latch of the contra-angle of the slow speed handpiece.
- Friction-Grip Shank (FG): Fit into the turbine of a high-speed handpiece.
The positioning, shape, and angle of the head of the bur determine each dental bur’s intended use. Below are some examples of the most common shapes of dental burs, as well as their intended uses:
- Flame: Flame burs are useful for creating the superb and precise definition of the proximal or buccolingual walls.
- Football: Also known as the “egg” bur, football burs are ideal for shaping and smoothing.
- Cone: Cone burs are ideal for inlay preparations.
- Inverted Cone: Useful for creating undercuts at the junction of the pulpal floor and lateral walls. They are also ideal for flattening pulpal and gingival walls.
- Pear: Pear burs are useful for trimming, finishing, excavating, and creating undercuts. They may also be useful in the process of splitting the roots of smaller teeth.
- Round: Round burs are most suitable for the removal of decay, cavity preparation, creating undercuts, and creating access points.
- Straight Fissure: Ideal for initial entry and forming the internal walls of the preparation.
- Cross-Cut Tapered Fissure: This type of dental bur provides superior cutting action. The cross-cut tapered fissure bur is useful for sectioning multi-rooted teeth and reducing crown height.
- Wheel: Wheel burs are typically used for occlusal shaping and deep cutting.
- Finishing: As the name suggests, finishing burs are most suitable for finishing restorations. They may also be useful for enameloplasting, odontoplasty, or soft tissue contouring.
Safco Dental is happy to provide the dental burs you need to provide your patients with top-tier care. Click here to check out our inventory.
Tungsten Carbide Burs
Carbide burs provide exceptional strength and durability; tungsten carbide is three times stronger than steel. Because they are so durable, carbide burs are ideal for preparing cavities or cutting through metal, or removing amalgam fillings. They stand up against high temperatures and are able to be used for a considerable amount of time before needing replacement.
Tungsten carbide burs are ideal for shaping bone, the removal of impacted teeth, crown sectioning, and more. They provide reduced vibration, which provides the patients with a more comfortable experience and reduces the chance of chipping, breaking, or excessive friction.
Safco Dental offers an impressive inventory of tungsten carbide burs. We also carry a complete line of Midwest carbide burs.
Diamond Burs
Diamond burs are made up of a stainless steel base that is bonded to diamond powder. The diamond powder creates an abrasive quality and exceptional strength and cutting ability. Diamond burs are typically used with a high-speed handpiece.
Diamond burs are typically used for precision polishing and shaping, but their superior cutting ability means that they may also be used to cut through zirconia or porcelain.
Depending on your needs, you have a wide range of different grits to choose from. Coarse-grit diamond burs are typically used for tooth reduction, while fine-grit diamond burs are optimal for finishing. You can easily distinguish the grit you need by the color label on the bur:
- Flame: Flame burs are useful for creating the superb and precise definition of the proximal or buccolingual walls.
- Football: Also known as the “egg” bur, football burs are ideal for shaping and smoothing.
- Cone: Cone burs are ideal for inlay preparations.
- Inverted Cone: Useful for creating undercuts at the junction of the pulpal floor and lateral walls. They are also ideal for flattening pulpal and gingival walls.
- Pear: Pear burs are useful for trimming, finishing, excavating, and creating undercuts. They may also be useful in the process of splitting the roots of smaller teeth.
- Round: Round burs are most suitable for the removal of decay, cavity preparation, creating undercuts, and creating access points.
- Straight Fissure: Ideal for initial entry and forming the internal walls of the preparation.
- Cross-Cut Tapered Fissure: This type of dental bur provides superior cutting action. The cross-cut tapered fissure bur is useful for sectioning multi-rooted teeth and reducing crown height.
- Wheel: Wheel burs are typically used for occlusal shaping and deep cutting.
- Finishing: As the name suggests, finishing burs are most suitable for finishing restorations. They may also be useful for enameloplasting, odontoplasty, or soft tissue contouring.
Safco Dental is proud to offer an expansive range of FG diamond burs. We also offer a line of Microcopy NeoDiamond burs.
Dental Bur Care and Management
Ensuring that you are properly caring for your burs helps to ensure their longevity and effectiveness.
Pay close attention to the type of bur you choose; single-use burs should always be discarded of after they have been used in a clinical application, and should never be reused.
It is generally recommended to use a multi-use dental bur in no more than five clinical applications; this ensures that the bur does not endure significant wear, which can lead to excessive friction and reduced efficiency.
After each use, your burs should be allowed to sit in an ultrasonic tank filled with enzyme solution before they are sterilized in the autoclave. This allows residuals to be shaken out without compromising the integrity of the bur head.
Safco Dental: Best Online Dental Supply Company
As you have learned here, dental burs play an important role in your patients’ treatment. With the information you have learned today, you will be well-equipped for choosing (and using) the dental burs that enable you to provide the highest possible level of care for your patients.
Here at Safco Dental, we are dedicated to providing the equipment and supplies you need to provide your patients with the top-tier care that they deserve.
For high-quality dental supplies, place your trust in Safco Dental. In addition to a wide range of dental burs, we proudly boast a massive inventory of essentials for general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, surgical dentistry, and more.
Do you have questions about the dental burs that we have to offer? Looking for some assistance in choosing the dental burs that will work best for you and your patients? Feel free to contact us anytime; our team of dental supply experts is here to answer your questions and help you find what you need.
Be sure to check out our Blog page for more informative dental blogs.