A dental bur is a tiny drill piece for a tooth. The dentist uses dental burs to remove hard tissue with his handpieces, such as teeth and bones. The burs are available in various sizes, materials, shapes, and to suit different situations and procedures. If you are confused by this bewildering range of options, you may not know what to choose.
Burs come in various shapes and sizes, so standard numbering systems were devised to make them easier to identify. There are two main numbering systems in use: U.S. and ISO (International Standards Organization). Carbide burs are typically numbered from 1 to 4 digits, depending on the bur’s size. You can make the right choice when selecting a dental bur when you know the five types available.
1. Carbide burs
The most common uses include filling cavities, removing old fillings, and shaping bone. The following are advantages of carbide burs:
-The surface is smoother than that of diamond bursts.
-Other types of burs also vibrate and chatter more than carbide burs.
2. Diamond burs
The most common uses are: Cutting porcelain and polishing.
Diamond bursts have the following advantages:
-Faster and smoother cuts can be achieved with diamond burs, which are also needed when extreme precision is required. Compared to diamond burs with coarser grit, diamond burs with finer grit provide a better polish and are better suited to precision work versus removing large pieces.
-It will help if you focus on a natural diamond outlast a synthetic one when buying a diamond bur.
3. Ceramic burs
Adjusting acrylic pieces is the most common use. Ceramic burs have the following advantages:
It is easier to adjust acrylic pieces in acrylic burs made from ceramic since they don’t conduct heat as much as other burs. Thermoplastics can also be adjusted using these burs. Burns are also reduced when burs are changed when cutting at a cooler temperature.
4. Steel burs
Used most commonly to remove dentin and prepare cavities. Steel burs have the following advantages:
The combination of high-speed steel burs and wear-resistant carbides provides abrasion resistance and good edge retention. Low maintenance and flexibility make them an ideal choice. In contrast to other dental burs, these tend to chip and dull more quickly.
5. Different shapes of dental burs
Dentists use a wide range of dental burs, each for a different purpose with its advantages. When paired with an inefficient shape, even the best material may not be as effective as it could be. Round, pear, and crosscut tapered shapes are the most common shapes.
Pearl burs are ideal for creating access points, preparing cavities, and balancing roots of smaller teeth. Round burs are commonly used to prepare cavities and create access points, but they may also be used to create channels for blades when removing teeth. Tapered fissure bursts cut very efficiently, so they produce less debris. Consequently, they are ideal for reducing crown height and sectioning teeth with multiple roots.
