Dental burrs are one of the most frequently used tools in a dentist’s clinic. A simple gaze at the catalog of dental burrs can confuse even the most experienced professionals. That’s because you have so many choices. Apart from the variety of burrs, which metal to go with is also tricky to answer.
Thus, we will make it easier for you by creating a fact-based analysis. The description in this piece will empower you to make a rational call on choosing the right dental burr.
What Are Dental Burrs?
The dental burrs are a vital tool for cutting and sizing hard tissues of the tooth. Dentists use these burrs with handheld rotary machines.
Moreover, the physical dynamic of the burr is simple. It has the head at the top, the neck, and the shank at the bottom.
Thus, they are available in many shapes and sizes. Practitioners can align them with their ergonomic needs.
Even so, the burrs made from tungsten carbide and diamond coat are most popular among the fraternity. There are burrs made from other metals like steel, which dental surgeons use only in certain circumstances.
Tungsten Carbide Burrs
Whenever and wherever the discussion of tungsten carbide burr emerges, the only word that comes to the fore is precision. The preciseness they offer comes from their strength and resistance.
What’s more, tungsten burrs are almost 3x stronger than stainless steel. It’s the resistance that makes the job of dentists easier. Besides, they don’t have to worry about any potential breakdown. The alloy makes creating structures and finishing smoother and comfortable.
The tungsten carbide burrs have an excellent shelf life and have a longer work life. The price of these burrs may be relatively on the higher side compared to other steel burrs. But the longevity certainly makes up for the cost.
Also, the tungsten burrs produce the slightest vibration among the lot, which means lesser discomfort to the patients and smooth operation for dentists.
Diamond Coated Burrs
We are all aware that diamond is one of the most solid substances found on the earth. The quality enables dentists to employ diamond burrs with high-speed rotary handpieces. But, they use diamond burrs in high-intensity procedures like grinding of enamel and bones.
Diamond-coated burrs with friction-grip shank do a phenomenal job in clinical procedures like crowning and tooth restructuring. They can operate them at a breakneck speed and get smooth cuts. Even so, the only downside of these diamond-coated burrs is their work life. As they run at a fast pace, they tend to have a very short lifespan.
What Are the Uses of Dental Burrs?
The dental burrs are a dentist’s most powerful tool. Hence, they use it in many surgical interventions.
Let’s have a look at the utility of these burrs in slightly greater detail.
A. To Remove a Dental Crown
You need a combination of both diamond-coated burrs and carbide tungsten burrs to remove a dental crown effectively. The diamond burr helps in cutting the porcelain. Likewise, at the same time, tungsten carbide burr lets remove metal remains smoothly.
B. To Take Out an Amalgam
Pear-shaped or cross-cut burrs are best for removing amalgam. And there is undoubtedly a no better choice than tungsten carbide burr for such precision procedures.
C. To Remove Dental Caries
Removing dental caries is a highly complex process. And choosing the correct set burrs is as critical. Thus, the ideal way to remove the caries is by operating carbide tungsten burrs slower.
Moreover, dentists prefer to have three to four burrs of different sizes at their disposal. And drive them according to the decayed area. They first try to cut through hard tissues. Once they have clarity about the depth of the cavity, they go on and remove all caries with fine carbide burrs.
D. Preparing for an All-Ceramic Restoration
The demands of all ceramic restoration processes are peculiar. It’s these burrs that make it possible. Besides, the restoration procedure requires a 90o exit and rounded inside angle. Thus, dentists get modified burrs to do this restoration.
E. Finishing Preparations
The finishing preparation has two parts. And in both carbide tungsten burrs have a role to play. Dentists first employ them to remove excess composite off the cavity. Then, they use special finishing carbide burrs that have shallow flutes to go about the business.
F. Maintaining Reusable Burrs
Both tungsten and diamond-coated burrs are reusable. But maintaining them to reuse with the same effect is tricky. Thus, most experienced dental surgeons suggest examining the burrs after use. Besides, they also recommend removing all debris because it is a non-negotiable process.
HP vs. RA vs. FG Dental Burrs
HP (handpiece) Burrs
The HP burrs come with a long shank having a diameter of 2.35mm. Moreover, they are a very effective tool for precision surgical procedures. Very handy for sizing cheek teeth. What’s more, the HP burrs go with slow-motion rotary tools. ISO predefines the length and diameter of these burrs.
RA (right angle) Burrs
The Right-angle burrs work with contra-angle rotary handpieces. Besides, their shaft diameter is the same as HP, which is 2.35mm. ISO defines their length with a minimum of 2XX.
FG (friction grip) Burrs
Dentists prefer to operate friction grip burrs with high-speed rotary machines. It’s self-explanatory because they want to generate maximum friction using these burrs. Moreover, they are convenient for veterinary dental interventions. Their ISO lengths start from 3XX and usually have a size of about 20mm.
Tips to Choose the Right Dental Burrs
There are majorly four variables that make a dental burr different from the others. These are shape, burr diameter, grit size, and shank size.
Thus, choosing the right burr has a lot to do with understanding these variables of a burr well.
Once you know how the variables affect their efficacy, your chances of picking a perfect burr go substantially high.
So, let’s understand these factors with a little more elaboration on each one.
#1. Select the Right Shape
In the ISO system, each shape has a designated code. Colloquial description of primary forms is cone, round, and spear. Generally, dentists employ round and pear-shaped burrs to create a cavity and do undercuts. In comparison, they use cross-cut burrs for crowning and sectioning.
Moreover, ISO subcategorized these shapes with shape numbers. Thus, that makes the job of the professionals easier. As a result, they can use specific burrs and understand what works for them in a particular procedure.
#2. Choose the Correct Burr Diameter
The diameter of the dental burr head is also a very critical factor that brings precision in surgical procedures. Besides, there is a straightforward principle that helps you choose the right burr head.
The smaller the diameter burr better it is more detailed work. In contrast, burrs with large diameters are handy for less invasive procedures.
#3. Check the Grit Size
The colored coating around the neck of the burr is Grit. Some call it grain. The Grit or grain size has a role to play in removal procedures.
So, if you aim to remove large pieces of material, always use coarse Grits. While lighter you go is better if the objective is finishing and polishing.
#4. Select the Correct Shank Size
The size of the shank should always align with the handpiece and objective of the procedure. If precision is what you are hunting for, go with lengthier Shrank.
Also, the shank with ideally 2.35mm diameter is something that ISO recommends. For mild intervention, mid-length shranks always offer greater convenience and efficiency.
Final Thoughts!
Choosing the right dental burr has been a pain point for everyone in the industry. The concern is not limited to dentists or professionals who clinically use the tool. Moreover, retailers in B2B business who supply these burrs also found it confusing. They don’t know where to direct a particular product.
That’s when fact-based clarity is nothing short of a blessing. It goes the extra mile when this information comes from a professional carbide burr manufacturer, like FitCarbide.
So, irrespective of your identity, if you deal with these dental burrs in some way or another, the information mentioned above would certainly help you use and choose dental burrs better.