Types of finishing dental burs
The important tools called finishing dental burs are widely used in dental clinics. Buyers can consider these types when choosing finishing burs.
Polishing Burs
These are made for smoothing up the dental materials and teeth surfaces. Usually, polishing burs work with a dentist's hand tool. Common polishing materials include rubber compounds and fine grit sand. These materials help to give a shiny look fast without much effort. Polishing burs are essential for cosmetic dentistry, where the purpose is to give a shiny finish that improves the overall look.
Tungsten Carbide Burs
This turbine burs type is well-known for its solidness and capacity to hold a sharp edge for an extended period. Mainly, they are preferred when finishing on materials like metal or strong dental resin. Tungsten carbide's strength permits efficient cutting and reduces the number of times dentists need to change or sharpen tools.
Ceramic Burs
Ceramic burs are light in weight. They are quite hard and can be used to finish dental materials that are either composite or ceramic made. The primary material of the ceramic burs allows them to cut or grind without giving off much heat. This further eliminates the chances of harming the tooth structure or nearby tissue that is sensitive to heat. Moreover, the ceramic finishing burs' resistance to wear is known to keep them effective even after much use.
Diamond Burs
A diamond bur is a finishing burs type that provides an extra-sharp cut because of the tiny diamond pieces fixed on its tip. Mostly, these burs are utilized in sculpting and polishing dental crowns and bridges made from porcelain. It is also ideal for smoothing composite fillings to the desired tooth shape. Finishing the diamond burs comes in varying grits, which can be coarse or fine. Coarse and fine grits are used for raw material finishes or shiny finishes, respectively.
Industry applications of finishing dental burs
Finishing burs for teeth play a key role in working on the teeth materials in many ways. The following are practical applications of finishing dental burs.
Dental Restorations
A diamond finishing bur is usually employed in cosmetic dentistry on crowns, bridges, and veneers that are made from ceramic or porcelain. These burs aid in sculpting the material to ascertain an ideal fit within the patient's mouth. They also smoothen the surface to enhance the aesthetic quality. This contributes to a natural and polished look for dental repairs without harming the underlying structure.
Composite Fillings
Burs play an indispensable role when dentists use composite resin to repair decayed teeth. Before the new material is applied, an enamel cutting bur prepares the cavity. This is done by removing decayed tissue and creating a suitable shape for holding the filling in place. After the resin is placed, finishing burs are used to contour and polish the filling so that it fits the tooth structure and restores its original look.
Orthodontics
Finishing dental burs also have a major use in an orthodontic procedure. When dentists make custom braces or dental aligners, burs made of tungsten carbide or diamond are commonly used to cut and smooth the acrylic or metal materials. This makes braces more comfortable, effective, and less likely to irritate the gums or other soft tissues in the mouth.
Custom Proxies
In dental labs, burs are primarily used to create dentures and other prosthetic teeth made from acrylic or other materials. Dental technicians use ceramic burs to ensure the dentures look realistic and fit properly and to give the surface a polished look. This tool makes proxies look like natural teeth.
Maintenance of Oral Hygiene
Burs are also pertinent to dental hygiene tools like air polishing devices and ultrasonic scalars, which dentists use to offer in-office teeth cleaning. These burs, when affixed to handpieces, help remove dental plaque and calculus from the teeth and give them a shiny finish.
Product specifications and features of finishing dental burs
Technical Specifications
- Diameter:Usually, finishing burs for teeth have a diameter that ranges from 1.5 mm to 10 mm. In most cases, the diameter depends on the job the bur is meant to perform.
- Fine Grit:Most finishing burs are made with fine grit. This means that the cutting surface has small and smooth particles. The fine burs are used for polishing purposes, to give a smooth finish without taking off excess material.
- Collar Size:For rotary tools, the bur collar size compatibility is important. Finishing burs can have collar sizes that range from 2.35 mm to 6 mm.
- Material:In terms of material composition, manufacturers create diamond burs using steel and bond them with diamond particles. Tungsten carbide burs are made from tungsten carbide. burs are made from steel and ceramic. Steel burs and ceramic burs are highly durable and resistant to wear, while diamond burs offer superior cutting capability.
- Shank Size: Usually, the shank size of these burs is compatible with standard dental handpieces. Their standard shank sizes are either 1/8 inch (3.175 mm) or 1/16 inch (1 mm).
How to Install
- Remove Existing Bur:Previously installed burs should be removed from the handpiece. Do this by loosening the bur clasp or collet.
- Insert Finishing Bur:Once the old bur is removed, insert the new finishing dental bur into the handpiece chuck. The shank should go deep into the chuck.
- Tighten Chuck:According to the model of the handpiece, engage the chuck. Either tighten the collet by twisting the nose cone or press the 'lock' button.
- Check Security:After tightening, give the bur a slight pull to ensure it is securely held. The proper installation is ascertained when there is no pull from the bur.
How to Use
- Power Up:Turn on the handpiece after placing the finishing bur into the chuck. Ensure it reaches the speed recommended for polishing.
- Preparation: Apply a polishing paste or wheel to the bur's tip. This helps the bur perform its function well.
- Testing Burs: Hold the handpiece with both hands firmly, put the polishing bur close to the material, and test the burs with light pressure.
- Polish Surface: With the bur spinning, move it in circular motions across the area that needs polishing. Do this until a shiny finish is achieved.
Maintenance and Repair
- Cleaning:Daily cleaning after each use is important for maintenance. Post-cleaning, store them in a dry area.
- Inspection:Weekly, check for visible signs of wear or damage. Moreover, replace burs showing excessive wear or chipping.
- Lubrication:Monthly lubrication of the handpiece is important.
Quality and Safety Considerations for finishing dental burs
A lot of things should be considered when choosing quality and safety for dental burs. They must maintain a high standard to guarantee proper functioning without causing harm.
- Quality Materials:Quality burrs are made from materials such as tungsten carbide, diamond, steel, and ceramics. Tungsten carbide is one of the durable materials with excellent cutting edges capable of withstanding repetitive use in a dental setting. For cases where maximum durability and sharpness are required, diamond burs are produced by bonding diamonds to a bur head, which is ideal for polishing or cutting hard materials like enamel, ceramics, and composite resins. Steel or ceramic burs cater to general-purpose finishing. Usually, they are effective but less durable than tungsten carbide.
- Precise Manufacturing: Usually, quality control needs to ensure that burs are manufactured with precision. This guarantees that the size, shape, and grit of each bur are consistent. Uneven or poorly shaped burs not only reduce efficiency but also increase the chair time for dentists because they may require more frequent replacement.
- Sharpening and Grading:When dental burs are manufactured, especially finishing and polishing burs, special attention should be given to sharpening and grading. The sharpening of burs enables effective cutting without applying excess pressure to the handpiece. The grading of burs deals with the size of the abrasive particles used. This, in turn, determines the coarseness or fineness of the bur. The coarser grits take off more material during the initial cutting. In contrast, the finer grits smooth the surface to achieve a polished finish.
- Heat Resistance:Good-quality burs who have the capacity to resist heat generation during friction. It prevents the destruction of dental tissue and prevents discomfort to patients.
- Sterilization:As for safety, burs intended for dental use should be easily sterilized to eliminate all forms of bacteria and pathogens after use on patients. Most manufacturers advise either autoclaving or using chemical disinfectants for their burs. This helps to contribute to infection control in a dental practice.
- Packaging and Labelling:Properly packaged and labeled burs are vital in making dental tools safer and of good quality. They are packaged in a manner that prevents physical damage to the burs during transit and storage. Each bur pack must contain adequate information about sterile burs, their expiration date, usage instructions, and manufacturer details. This clearly specified information helps dentists in making informed choices and ensures they are using quality products to enhance patient safety.
Q & A
Q.1 What criteria should be used when choosing dental burs?
To choose finishing dental burs, consider the materials they are made of, their durability, and the dental procedures they can perform.
Q.2 Are diamond burs better than tungsten carbide burs?
Yes, they are. A diamond burs provides a finer finish for polishing because of its hardness. In contrast, tungsten carbide burs are ideal for cutting because of their durability.
Q.3 What is the average lifespan of dental burs?
Usually, the lifespan of these finishing burs depends on the type used and how frequent they are used. In most cases, they are replaced after 15 to 20 uses. However, tungsten carbide and diamond burs have the capacity to last longer than steel burs. Also, burs replace often in high-use environments.
Q.4 What sterilization method is preferred for finishing dental burs?
Autoclaving is the most preferred method for sterilizing these burs. Nevertheless, chemical disinfection is an alternative.
Q.5 Are diamond burs reusable after sterilization?
Yes, diamond burs can be reused as long as they are properly sterilized after each use.
