Are single-use diamond burs more efficient at cutting?

When should we throw away a bur and pick up a fresh one? How long are they supposed to last? (it's measured in minutes!)

Are expensive brands a con?

Tiny, but one of the most important tools of our trade…BURS! In a world full of different identifying numbers and names, it can get confusing and even overwhelming. 

https://youtu.be/Ol0_XcIbSD8

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That’s why on today’s episode, we welcome Günter and Marcela from Intensiv, a globally recognised manufacturer of dental burs, where they take great pride in bringing the latest tech to help make our dental procedures that much easier and effective.

In this episode, we cover how diamonds are sourced, what the differences are in colours of burs and how the grain size of diamonds can change our results. There’s lots of amazing tips and tricks here given by the team at Intensiv, so you’ll definitely walk away from this one with something new up your sleeve.

Need to Read it? Check out the Full Episode Transcript below!

HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode:

01:24 Protrusive Dental Pearl

02:03 Introduction to Team Intensiv

05:40 Understanding Bur Codes

10:49 Bur Colours

15:10 When to Use Different Grit Diamonds

18:40 Single Use Burs vs Reusable Burs

24:59 Sourcing Diamonds

29:18 Fixing the Diamonds to the Metal Shank

32:40 Is my bur fit for purpose?

37:30 Drilling Zirconia

39:30 Final Tips

41:20 Contact Intensiv

This episode is eligible for 0.75 CE credit via the quiz below.

AGD Code: 250 Operative (restorative) Dentistry (Preparation Technology)

GDC Learning Outcome:  C

Learning Outcomes

Identify the appropriate dental burs for different procedures, considering grit size and material composition, to ensure efficient and safe treatment.

Evaluate the impact of bur selection on patient comfort and procedural outcomes, minimising trauma and maximising efficiency during dental treatments.

Implement best practices for the maintenance and replacement of burs to ensure optimal performance and longevity, thereby improving clinical results and patient satisfaction.

If you liked this episode, you will aslso like: PDP117 - Dental Ceramics in 2022 – Which Ceramic Should I Use

Click below for full episode transcript:

Teaser: Are single use burs better or really more cost effective than our traditional multi use burs? I think the answer is actually going to surprise you. And my biggest pet peeve, the thing I hate the most, is using a bur and it has like zero cutting efficiency. I work in a clinic where we share our burs and we have like different bur kits made up.

Jaz's Introduction:And so sometimes I use a bur and I hadn't inspected it and I find that, oh my goodness, this is taking way longer than it should. And of course I have to ask my nurse to go to the stock room to get a brand new bur. But this is frustrating. Like when you are using a bur with less cutting efficiency. It is annoying and it's actually downright dangerous for the tooth. So how can you tell? Is there an objective way to tell and subjectively, how can you tell exactly the moment when you should bin a bur? So you avoid that horrible scenario.

Hello, Protruserati. I'm Jaz Gulati and welcome back to your favorite dental podcast. I'm joined today by Günter Smailus and Marcella Roba who represent Intensiv. Intensiv is a Swiss based company which specializes in diamonds, so who better to find out more about the use of diamond burs and everything to do with diamonds. It's a very geeky episode, but I feel diamond burs and diamonds in dentistry, we use them so much, we rely on them so much. I think it's worth an episode, it's worth discussing about different diamonds in dentistry.

I have no financial interest with Intensiv, this is not a sponsored episode. But this is very much for the pursuit of knowledge and disseminating information to Protruserati, i. e. you guys,