Dental burs can be used cutting hard tissues – tooth or bone. They are made from steel, stainless-steel, tungsten carbide and diamond grit. There is a bewildering range of dental burs in a dental catalogue, nevertheless for basic veterinary only use several burs are expected.
All burs possess a shank along with a head. There are three main types of shank – Long Straight Shank (HP), Latch-type Shank (RA) Grip Shank (FG)
Long Straight Shank (HP)
These shanks squeeze into the nose cone with the slow speed handpiece when the prophy angle or contra angle is taken off. They are utilised for diamond cutting discs or long 40mm burs. The main use of HP burs is within the trimming of small herbivore cheek teeth.
Latch-type Shank (RA)
These shanks go with the latch in the contra-angle on slow speed handpieces. They are generally 20mm long and obtainable in exactly the same shapes as FG burs.
Friction Grip Shank (FG)
These shanks squeeze into the turbine of a high-speed handpiece. The standard length is 20mm long, but longer surgical lengths can be obtained and these can be essential for veterinary work.
Round Head
These heads bring cavity preparation, creating access points, undercuts and channels for luxator blades in extraction. Sizes cover anything from 1/4 to 9. The lesser the amount, the lesser the pinnacle. The best sizes to work with initially are 1, 2, and 4.
Pear Head
These heads are used for cavity preparation, access points and splitting roots of small teeth. The most useful sizes are 330 and 330L
Crosscut Tapered Fissure Head
These heads bring sectioning multi-rooted teeth and reducing crown height when disarming dogs. The most useful sizes are 700/700L and 701/701L.
Finishing Burs
These heads bring finishing restorations, soft tissue recontouring, alveolaplasty, enameloplasty and odontoplasty. They are often obtained as 12 or 30 bladed burs in carbide steel or as diamond heads of various shapes. They are also available as white stone, for composite, or green stone, for amalgam.
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