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Dental Burs Classifications: Everything You Need to Know

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John Tailor
Dental Burs Classifications: Everything You Need to Know

Whether you’re a child or a grownup, you probably know that most people aren’t fans of going to the dentist. This is one of those things most of us do only when we have to, but the fact is that nobody needs to be afraid of their dentist. These people are here to help us and soothe our pain, and the reason why that’s the case is quite simple - these people use some of the most advanced and professional equipment in the healthcare industry. Dental burs are among the most useful and practical tools out there, and learning a bit more about them will probably help you get ready for your next appointment and help you feel better about it. The best way to learn that is by checking out their ISO number, a 15-digit number that tells you all about your dental bur. It consists of five segments with three numbers each, and here’s what they mean.


Different materials

Even though these things look the same if you’re a layperson, dental burs come in different shapes and sizes, and they’re made from different materials. This is the first thing you need to know about them and the first category of burs you should focus on. The first three numbers on your dental bur tell you whether you’re using a diamond bur (ISO number 806) or a carbide bur (ISO number 500). These are both very effective and strong, and while a carbide bur gives you a smoother finish, the fact is that diamond burs are more popular with dentists all over the world.

Shank types, diameters, and length 

As mentioned before, dental burs come in different shapes and sizes, and that’s precisely one of the reasons why the dental consumables market is constantly growing - people are always coming up with new ideas and solutions for dentists to use. So, the next three numbers in the ISO classification describe how long the shank of your bur is, how thick it is, and what type it is. Of course, longer shanks are easier to handle and use, but make sure you have different types - turbine, contra-angle, and handpiece burs - by your side at all times, just in case you need to use them.


Head shape

The next three digits will tell you more about the shape of the bur head. There are lots of different models on the market, and every dentist has their own personal favorites, but, again, you need them all if you want to make sure that you’re able to solve all your patients’ problems. So, from ball-shaped burs that will help you remove the tissue and pear-shaped burs that you use when protecting the cavity to conical burs you’ll use for chamfering and inverted cone-shaped burs for those exhausting undercuts nobody loves - these are all the things you need if you want to be a proper dentist and make your patients happy.


Grit size

The following three-digit cluster is all about the grit size of your dental bar, and while most dentists classify them according to their quality, precision, and efficiency, the industry uses another classification that makes things much easier. In other words, your dental bur comes in several colors that coordinate with their grit size and quality. Therefore, you can choose from white bars that mark superfine grits (ISO number 594), yellow bars that are extra-fine (ISO number 504), red bars that are fine (ISO number 514), blue bars that are average, i.e. standard (ISO number 524), green bars that are coarse (ISO number 534), and black bars that are super coarse and the most extreme (ISO number 544).


Head diameter

Finally, the last three digits of your ISO number correspond to the maximum diameter of your dental bur’s head. Again, the combinations are huge and you’ll probably be able to find more options than you’ve expected, so just make sure you have as many as you can because you can never know who’s going to come to you and what sort of problem you’ll need to fix. So, burs with smaller heads are used for detailed work and all those things you need to do patiently and meticulously, while larger sizes are mostly used by dental surgeons and other professionals who solve complicated issues that need to be dealt with quickly and efficiently.


Dental burs may not always be that easy to understand, but if you use this guide and pay attention to what you’re buying and using in the future, you’ll surely come up with an amazing system and give your patients the care they need!

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John Tailor
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