Dental burs are small, essential pieces of equipment that make a big difference in dentistry. They help dentists to easily shape and clean the teeth during procedures. There are different types of dental burs based on the shape, size, and material used in it.
Using the right burs can improve your treatment efficiency and precision. When the dentist picks the right bur for the job, they can achieve better results. It also facilitates the quicker treatment process and helps you to grow your practice.
However, with the availability of diverse types of dental burs, it’s difficult to choose the right bur for each procedure. In this article, you will explore the different types of dental burs, their applications, and tips to decide which one is best for you.
What Are Dental Burs?
Dental burs are small spinning tools designed to help dentists in dental cosmetic procedures. Dentists use the burs to shape and cut the decayed teeth easily. Whether it is teeth whitening, dental implants, or gum contouring, burs are essential in every dental procedure.
Commonly, burs are made of tungsten carbide, diamond, and stainless steel. Each material has its features and benefits. Carbide materials are strong and best for cutting the tough part of teeth. While burs made of diamond are great for shaping.
Key components of dental burs are:
- Shank: The shank fits into the dental handpiece and comes in different sizes.
- Neck: This part connects the shank to the head and controls the bur during dental work.
- Head: This is the main part that is used for cutting and shaping the teeth.
Different Dental Bur Types
Dental burs are small tools that are attached to rotary instruments for precision work. This versatile tool comes in different types based on material, usage, and head shape. Having knowledge of the different types of dental burs helps you to choose the right one.
Material-Based Types — Dental Burs
As we discussed earlier, dental burs are made of different materials. Each material has its own features and specifications, like strength and durability. Let’s explore the bur type based on the material used in it.
- Tungsten Carbide dental Burs
This material is known for its durability and efficiency in cutting hard material. The tungsten carbide dental burs are highly durable and resistant to wear and tear. You can easily cut the teeth’ toughest part and prepare crowns and cavities.
- Diamond Burs
Diamonds are one of the hardest materials in nature. It is commonly used for cutting and polishing purposes. Burs made of diamond provide a smooth cutting and grinding experience. The diamond dental burs are excellent for crown preparation procedures.
- Ceramic Burs
Ceramic burs are less likely to heat up than other instruments. Dentists use these burs for bone cutting during implant surgery. Furthermore, these burs reduce the discomfort for the patient during treatments.
Dental Burs — Head Shape Variations
The head shape of a dental bur determines the complexity of cosmetic dentistry treatment. Here are the details of common head shapes found in dental burs.
- Round Burs
The round-shaped burs are commonly used in cosmetic dentistry to create holes in the teeth. Dentists used these burs to remove the decayed and broken teeth. They come in different sizes depending on the procedure requirements.
- Pear-Shaped Burs
This type of bur has a rounded body with a sharp and narrow tip. Dental professionals used these burs to create tapered cavities. Furthermore, it allows smooth cuts and ensures a filling of dental material is done perfectly.
- Inverted Cone Dental Burs
As the name suggested, the inverted cone dental burs have a unique shape with a tapered head. The base of these burs is flat and ideal for cutting the enamel and dentin. Moreover, the dentist used it to create angled cuts in teeth.
- Flame Dental Burs
These types of burs are flame-shaped with wide bases and pointed tips. Dentists commonly use these burs for shaping and finishing restorations. Flame dental burs also provide precise control during cosmetic treatment.
- Tapered Burs
The shape of these burs is conical with the widest part at the base. The tips are narrow and ideal for cavity preparation. You can also use it to precisely control the removal of material inside the teeth.
- Cylindrical Burs
Cylindrical burs are straight and uniform in shape. You can use it for straight-line cutting and crown preparation. Furthermore, the cylindrical bur also provides a smooth and finished surface during restoration.
Purpose-Specific Types — Dental Burs
Well, burs are designed for different tasks based on their intended usage. Let’s explore the common dental burs type based on usage:
- Cutting Burs
As the name suggests, these burs are designed to shape the tooth material. These burs are made of high-quality, strong material like diamond or tungsten carbide. They are ideal for tooth extraction, crowns, and cavity preparation.
- Polishing Burs
Dentists commonly use these burs to polish the teeth’ surfaces. They are used to smooth out the rough edges and give teeth a shiny look. These burs are typically used in cosmetic dentistry, where the dentist mainly focuses on teeth whitening. Aidite provides a high quality Grinding and Polishing Bur of dental burs that help you to polish the denture surface.
- Shaping Burs
After the crowning or dental implants, teeth need to be in the proper shape. These burs are used for refining and contouring the tooth. You can create the proper shape with these burs during crowns and fillings.
Shank-Based Types — Dental Burs
Dental burs are also categorized according to the shank type. Here are the details of the burs type that help you to decide which one can be used for dental treatment.
- Latch-Type Shank
Generally, these types of burs are designed to be used with slow-speed handpieces. The size of these burs is 20 mm and fits all contra-angles. Dentists use these burs to prepare crowns and bridges.
- Friction Grip Shank
These types of burs are 20 mm in length and 1.6 mm in diameter. Dentists used these burs for preparation and finishing procedures. They are mostly used in high-speed handpieces.
- Handpiece (HP) Burs
These burs feature large, long, and straight shanks. Dentists use these burs that don’t require high speed, like trimming. The length and sturdiness of these burs make them versatile.
Dental Burs — Head Shape Type
Dental burs can also be classified by grit size because it affects how the burs cut or polish the teeth. The colour ring is usually around the neck of the bur, which determines its coarseness. The most common colours are:
- Back: Super coarse
- Blue /No Ring: Standard
- Green: Coarse
- White: Superfine
- Red: Fine
- Yellow: Extra fine
Applications of Dental Burs in Dentistry
Dental burs become essential tools in dental procedures. Different types of dental burs have specific applications depending on the procedure’s nature and the dentist’s requirements. Here are the details of the common application of burs.
- Cosmetic Dentistry & Aesthetic Procedures
In cosmetic dentistry, dentists use different sizes of burs for reshaping and polishing the teeth. They used to prepare the teeth for crowns, bridges, and veneers. Diamond dental burs are used to remove the old filling. Polishing burs are used for polishing restoration and contouring.
- General Dentistry & Restorative Treatments
Dentists also use burs in general dentistry for routine treatments. They use the cutting bur for cavity preparation and the shaping bur for filling removal. Furthermore, they also use them to remove decayed tooth material and create space for crowns or fillings. Many restorative procedures also use burs to make sure the tooth structure is properly prepared.
- Endodontics (Root Canal Treatment)
Different types of burs are used to examine the root canal situation, like accessing the pulp chamber and cleaning the canal. You can easily remove the damaged tissue and prepare the space for filling. Burs also help you to shape the root canal and ensure it is clean and ready for the procedure.
- Orthodontics
One of the biggest applications of burs is in orthodontics. Dentists use it to remove the excessive adhesive from brackets and smooth wires or braces. They can also be used to refine the tooth contours during the alignment process. They make sure the braces fit precisely to contribute better results in the future.
Oral Surgery and Implant
Oral surgery requires precise tools in a variety of procedures, including tooth extraction, implant replacement, and bone shaping. Dental burs enable the surgeon to create precise cuts in bone or gum tissue. During implant surgeries, burs are used to ready the space for implants and make sure the structure fits properly.
Choosing the Right Bur for Your Procedure
Before choosing the dental bur, it is important to keep the following factors in mind. Here are the details of these factors:
- Procedure Requirements: First of all, identify the procedure nature before buying the dental burs. Dental cosmetic procedures need different types and sizes of burs. If you need to cut the teeth and shape it, the tungsten carbide dental burs are best for you. For finishing and polishing the teeth, a diamond or polishing bur is your ideal choice.
- Type of Material Being Worked On: In the dental field, the professionals work on different types of material. The most common materials are enamel, dentin, and composite. For enamel and porcelain material, diamond dental burs are best for you. You can also use tungsten carbide dental burs for soft material.
- Desired Outcome (Cutting, Shaping, Polishing): The key selection of dental burs depends on the desired procedure outcome. If you want to cut or shape a tooth precisely, you will need the bur designed for fast cutting. However, if your end goal is to polish a restoration, then you can choose a steel bur for it. Aidite Grinding and Polishing Bur sets are best to polish the teeth surface.
- Patient-Specific Needs: Every patient’s teeth size and condition also influence the selection of bur. Factors like patient tooth sensitivity, patient age, and the amount of enamel left compel you to think wisely before you make an informal decision.
FAQS
What is the structure of a bur?
The head, neck, and shank are the main components of a dental bur. The head part consists of a blade that is used to cut the tissue. Necks connect the head with the shank. While the shank is the longest part that is inserted into the handpieces.
Which bur is used for tooth preparation?
There are many different types of burs used in tooth preparation. Round, pear-shaped, and inverted cone burs are the popular choices of dentists. Furthermore, some dentists use steel burs for cavity preparation.
What is the bur used to remove enamel?
Dentists use diamond and carbide burs used to remove enamel. The diamond bur is coated with industrial-grade diamond that is hard enough to cut the enamel. Furthermore, the carbide is used in tooth extractions due to its hardness.
Conclusion
To sum up, there are different types of dental burs and each has its applications and features. Dentists use the bur according to the procedure complexity, the budget, and the material of the bur. Generally, most dentists use diamond dental burs for cutting and shaping the tooth. Furthermore, the polishing burs are also used to polish the teeth’ surfaces and enhance their appearance.
It’s important to keep the key factors like treatment efficiency and desired outcome in mind before making a final decision. Aidite provides high-quality and affordable grinding and polishing burs. They provide the flowchart about the bur size, code, and grit. Furthermore, their CAD/CAM milling bur is used for preliminary and sculpture of grooves.
The choice is up to you!