Dental Burs and their classifications

Dental Burs and their classifications

Dental Burs are rotary instruments with cutting edges in their head. They are most commonly used in caries removal cavity preparations,  access cavity preparations, and tooth preparation procedures for fixed partial dentures.

Classifications of dental burs

Based on the mode of attachment to the handpiece,

• Latch type

• Friction type

Based on the type of handpiece is used,

• Airotor burs (Most Common)

• Slow Speed Contra-angle burs

• Straight handpiece burs

Based on the shape of the bur head,

• Round burs

• Inverted cone burs

• Tapered fissure burs

• Straight fissure burs

• Pear-shaped burs

The above are the basic burs based on the shape of their heads. There are more burs available based on their modification in the basic bur heads. 

Round bur

The shape of this bur head is spherical. These burs  are used for enamel penetration, the extension of cavity preparation, placement of

retention slots and pits, and removal of deep caries in the dentin.

Inverted cone bur

It is the most common bur used for placing undercuts in dentin. They are also used for cavity extensions and for smoothening on cavity floors.

Straight fissure bur

It is an elongated cylinder and is used for

extension of the cavity in amalgam tooth preparation.

Tapered fissured bur

It is most commonly used bur for preparing inlay cavity preparations as well as crown preparation for receiving FPDs.

Pear-shaped bur

These burs are useful in preparing cavities with rounded line angles for amalgam cavity preparations.