Dental Burs Types

Dental Burs Types: Differentiating between the hundreds of varieties, shapes, and brands of dental burs can be overwhelming. With new types being introduced every year, it’s easy for even the most experienced dentist to overlook certain models that could make their clinical and lab work easier.

At DENTAL ROTORS, we understand the confusion that can arise when purchasing dental burs online. That’s why we’ve organized our dental bur category to help you choose the most suitable option for your needs without getting lost in doubts.

Dental Burs Types In the 1980s, major international dental institutions decided to unify dental burs under a common nomenclature and universal classification system. This led to their inclusion in ADA Specification No. 23 and ISO standards. Let’s dive into the various classification systems.

The first and simplest way to classify dental burs is by the type of rotary instrument they are designed to be used with.

Turbine Burs or FG (Friction Grip) Burs:

Dental Burs Types: These are the smallest burs, intended for use with high-speed dental turbines. They have a shank diameter of 1.6mm and a free end. The shank length is defined by ISO standards, always starting with 3XX (the final length varies depending on the type and shape of the cutting tip).

Read More About:

• Difference between Carbide and Diamond Burs
• Dental Turbine Burs
• Dental Drills

Our website offers a wide selection of diamond and tungsten carbide turbine burs.

Contra-Angle Handpiece Burs or RA (Right Angle) Burs:

These are intermediate-sized burs for use with low/medium-speed contra-angle handpieces. They have a 2.35mm shank diameter and a notch at the end of the shank that locks them into the handpiece head, making them easily distinguishable from other burs.

The shank length is defined by ISO standards starting with 2XX (the final length varies depending on the type and shape of the cutting tip). We also carry both diamond and tungsten carbide contra-angle burs.

Straight Handpiece Burs or HP (Hand Piece) Burs:

These are the largest burs, designed for use with straight handpieces in both clinical and lab settings. They have a 2.35mm shank diameter.

The shank length is defined by ISO standards starting with 1XX (the final length varies depending on the type and shape of the cutting tip). Additionally, we have a vast selection of lab burs.

Burs by Material Type

Tungsten Carbide Burs (ISO 500):

As replacements for older steel burs, these are composed of a tungsten carbide alloy in the working portion, enhancing their physical properties. According to ISO standards, tungsten carbide burs are designated by the ISO 500 numbering system.

These high-quality, precise burs incorporate multilayered carbon (diamond) particles into the working portion via electroplating techniques. According to ISO standards, diamond burs are designated by the ISO 806 numbering system.

This is probably the most significant and unique classification for each type of bur. They were initially simply named after their silhouette, such as the well-known “lance”, “rugby ball”, or “inverted cone”, among others, and we’ve tried to maintain.

Round Bur: Perfect for caries removal, access openings in surgery, and creating orientation grooves in prosthetics.

Straight Cylindrical Bur: Ideal for obtaining flat surfaces.

Curved Cylindrical Bur: Ideal for creating occlusal orientation grooves.

Round-End Tapered Bur: Suitable for crimping, orientation grooves, and beveling in prosthetic pre-treatments.

Flat-End Tapered Bur: Perfect for creating steps and defining the final margin of prosthetic preparations.

Inverted Cone Bur: Ideal for preparing retentive cavities.

Flame Bur: Indicated for use in the lingual region of incisors and canines.

Wheel Bur: Designed for obtaining mechanical retentions and extensive, heavy reduction.

Torpedo Bur: Designed for creating terminal lines in fixed prosthetics.

Following the ISO standardization rules, we find each shape numbered with these codes across most brands:

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[Insert image of common tungsten carbide bur shapes with ISO numbers]

The same bur shape can have different grit sizes depending on the treatment requirements. In addition to the ISO numbering, burs are distinguished by the color coding found on the colored ring on the bur neck.

From coarsest to finest, the grit sizes are:

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You can see an example of the different colors for the same bur shape, like this round bur, which can be used for coarse cavity cleaning with the coarsest grit or for fine margin polishing with the finest grit.

[Insert image showing the same bur shape in different grit sizes/colors]

Burs by Maximum Diameter of Working Portion

This classification specifies the size of the tip or working portion of the bur, so that within the same shape model, we can find various diameters.

Taking the round bur (ISO Shape 001) as an example, we can find sizes ranging from the smallest ISO 009 – ideal for detailed work like cleaning incipient caries lesions – to enormous diameters for use in prosthetics or surgery.

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After reviewing this comprehensive standardized guide, using the common round bur as an example, its complete ideal name regardless of brand should be: 806.314.001.524.016

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At Dental Rotors, we hope this exhaustive guide has been helpful and will make purchasing dental burs easier for you. We also have another post covering more basic dental bur types that may be useful.

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