Burs are an essential part of everyday dentistry and over the years the technology for dental burs has made huge advancements, leading to a wide variety of bur shapes and materials making their way into industry.
With so many types of burs available, it can be hard to know what they all do and which ones you’ll need for certain procedures. From round burs to diamond burs, whether you’re looking for something to remove large amounts of tooth decay with or something to finish and polish – we are going to take you through everything you need to know about the most common types of burs in dentistry and what they do so that you can keep your surgery’s supply stocked and ready to carry out every procedure.
Why is it important to use high-quality burs?
The quality of the bur you use is incredibly important as using low-quality burs can lead to complications during procedures and patient discomfort. Using the wrong burs can also damage your handpiece, wear it out prematurely and cause inefficient cutting. So, while buying cheap burs may seem like a bargain at the time, they can actually lead to a lot of problems and cost you more in the long run. To avoid this, ensure that you invest in high-quality burs for your dental procedures.
The three parts of a bur
Before we talk about the different types of burs, it’s important to first know the three parts that make up a dental bur, as this is what connects to the handpiece before you can start the procedure.
- The head – It contains the blade that rotates to cut tissue.
- The neck – It connects the head to the shank.
- The shank – The longest part of the bur that has different ends to attach to different types of handpieces.
Types of shanks
There are a few different types of shanks that you can fit to your bur and it’s important to note the difference and what each of them do as each shank will have a different effect and will only work with certain handpieces.
- Friction grip burs (FG burs) – These are made to fit high-speed handpieces, and are the most popular type of burs.
- Latch burs (RA burs) – These dental burs are made to use with low-speed contra-angle handpieces.
- Long straight shank (HP burs) – These are mainly used on low-speed handpieces.
- Also, short-shank burs are used in mini head or pediatric handpieces due to the smallness of the head
Types of bur by shape
There are many different types of shapes when it comes to burs and each shape will determine the efficiency and precision of dental procedures. There are a few major bur shapes in dentistry that are most commonly used, and we are going to take you through them and which one you should be using for each procedure.
Round burs
Round burs have a variety of applications as their round head allows them to help with cavity preparation, the removal of large amounts of tooth decay, excavating, creating access points for endodontic treatment and general cleaning of the tooth structure from caries.
Inverted cone bur
Inverted cone heads usually come in a variety of lengths and grits and are mostly used in dental surgery for creating undercuts and for restoration or root canals. They can also be used to form the occlusal surface or for the removal of caries as well.
Pearl burs
Pear-shaped bur heads (also known as 330 burs due to their ISO code) are mainly used for cavity preparation as their round edges make for the perfect tool to remove old restorative materials and fillings from cavities. They can also be used for removing caries, as well as trimming and finishing.
Tapered fissure burs
Tapered fissures come in a variety of sizes from short to long and are ideal for precise preparations whilst minimising the build-up of debris during crown removal. They are optimal for sectioning multi-rooted teeth and reducing crown height, especially as they have a low tendency to create unwanted residue.
Cylinder burs
Cylinder burs are largely used for the removal of amalgam restorations, but can also be used for initial tooth preparation and creating straight-line access in dental procedures to make the procedure more efficient.
Types of bur by material
Like the variety of shapes, burs also come in a variety of grades of coarseness to suit various jobs, and the material of a bur is a critical factor that dentists should consider when selecting the right tool for the job. We’ve detailed the most common bur materials based on coarseness below, with information on what they’re suitable for.
Remember: While the material of the bur is vitally important, so too is the quality of it and its suitability for the type of handpiece you’re using it with. Without high-quality burs and well-maintained handpieces, no treatment can be performed safely.
Diamond burs
Diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth, which gives the bur extra strength during action and is great for cutting through hard substances like enamel and dentin. However, this can leave a rough finish on teeth tissue which will call for further finishing by other more delicate grit burs. They are often used for procedures such as zirconia crown preparation and veneer installation and, due to their high precision, they are suitable for fine detailing, shaping, and contouring.
Ceramic burs
Ceramic burs are great for dental surgery as they do not heat up as easily as other dental burs during use due to the ceramic material’s low heat conduction properties. They are known for their hardness, durability and resistance to wear and are excellent for finishing and polishing due to their fine abrasion levels. They are most suitable for use when cutting bone in a dental implant surgery, as well as some soft tissue procedures because of their precision.
Carbide burs
Carbide burs are an excellent choice for when strength and efficiency are required, such as for cavity preparation, cutting through metal and bone and splitting teeth. They can also be used in implant overdenture procedures to help shape the surrounding bone efficiently to ensure the best fit and stability.
Keeping your handpieces in top shape
Burs are only one part of your dental handpiece and for efficient use and longevity, you need to make sure that you’re not only using the right burs, but also maintaining your handpiece to a high standard. If you want to learn about how to maintain your dental handpiece then you can read through our helpful blog.
Quality of bur is important in maintaining the health of your handpiece and patient comfort. A poor quality bur with an inconsistent shank diameter that doesn’t meet the 1.6mm standard could jam the handpiece, produce unbalanced spin or worse case scenario- eject in the patient’s mouth.
Buy dental burs and handpieces on the Trigiene store
No matter the type of bur or handpiece you’re looking for, visit the Trigiene online shop and discover everything you need to undertake your dental practice with both efficiency and ease.
If you find yourself in need of a dental handpiece repair or just have more questions on which types of burs you will need for what job then contact our friendly team for more expert advice.
