What are dental burs?
Dental burs are used to cut and polish hard tissues in the mouth and are attached to a handpiece. Depending on the technique being performed, there is a wide range of options. Steel, carbide burs, or diamond grit are commonly used.
The head, neck, and shank are the three sections of a bur. The blades in the head spin to cut the tissue. The longest component is the shank, which is placed into the handpiece. The neck joins the two parts together.
A dental bur is a necessary instrument for practically all dental treatments and procedures. They’re used to cut, grind, and remove hard and soft tissue, and they’re designed to attach to a rotary dental handpiece for quick and efficient operation.
Types of Dental Burs and Their Use
Tungsten carbide and diamond burs are the two most frequent forms of dental burs. Within those broad categories, burs exist in a variety of forms, blade configurations, and head angles to fit a wide range of treatments.
Tungsten Carbide Burs
Carbide burs are three times more durable than steel because they are built of tungsten carbide. They’re perfect for cutting jobs like preparing cavities, cutting through metal fillings, and sculpting bone during dental implant surgery because of the metal’s toughness. They’re also frequently utilized to remove crowns during endodontic treatments.
Diamond Burs
Diamond burs are made out of a stainless-steel frame that is coated in diamond powder in a variety of grits. The type of procedure the burs can do is determined by the grit level.
Diamond burs are commonly used to cut through zirconia or grind porcelain during the preparation and implantation of veneers and crowns because diamond is one of the toughest known materials.
The Benefits of Single Patient Use Burs and Instruments
Burs and equipment for single-patient use, such as probes, mirrors, and procedure kits, are designed to be used once and then destroyed, rather than sanitized for the next patient. They’ve lately acquired popularity as a result of the significant reduction in patient and staff infections, as well as the lower cost of replacement, which can save dental clinics money.
- Better Hygiene
A limited number of microorganisms can tolerate the severe temperature and pressure of an autoclave, even if your clinic uses excellent cleaning and sterilizing practices. Single-patient-use burs and instruments promote infection prevention by reducing the spread of oral germs from one patient to the next.
- Patient-friendly
During the process, all types of burs become blocked with enamel and dentin, reducing cutting efficiency. Clogged burs require more pressure to accomplish the same cutting intensity, which can upset patients as well as damage expensive handpieces and lengthen chair durations.
Using a new single-patient-use bur for each surgery reduces chair time, keeps handpiece bearings in good working order, and makes the procedure more comfortable for patients.
Bottom line
With varying sizes, shapes, and grits serving diverse purposes, the appropriate bur is important to a successful dental treatment. Reusable burs are being phased out in favor of single-patient-use burs, which offer better infection control and a better patient experience.