Carbide burs vs diamond burs

Updated on February 1, 2022

Burs have come a long way since their early roots some millennia ago, and they are now used for a wide range of treatments. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and grits to meet a variety of requirements. Burs are used to finish a wide range of objects across a wide range of industries. They are used in dentistry to give dental restorations their final shape as well as some minor characteristics. Metal burs are used in the industrial world to deburr hard materials like ceramics, steels, and stones, as well as some soft materials like plastic and hardwood.

Diamond burs and carbide burs are widely used by dentists around the world. They have slight difference in their use. Below we have mentioned the difference between carbide burs and diamond burs.

Carbide burs vs diamond burs

Carbide burs slice or chip away at material, providing a smoother, more aesthetically pleasing tooth surface. Diamond burs grind away at the material, creating a rough tooth surface that ultimately requires further polishing. 

Diamond Burs

Because diamond burs are most typically utilised with high-speed handpieces, friction grip shanks are the most common option. The hardest material available is diamond, which is used to grind away tooth tissue, most commonly enamel. A diamond bur’s grinding process leaves a rough finish.

Due to a significant decline in cutting effectiveness, diamond burs have a short lifespan. Diamond bursts are prone to get blocked with debris. Diamond burs are available in a variety of forms and grades, ranging from ultra fine to super coarse. Diamond burs can efficiently cut away porcelain restorative material.

Carbide burs

Tungsten carbide, which is three times stiffer than steel, is used to make carbide burs. Because it is made of such a durable substance, it can keep its sharpness for a long time. Carbide burs come in a variety of forms, similar to diamond burs. Because of the incisions formed in the bur’s head, they are effective cutting tools with minimum debris build-up.

Carbide burs, rather of grinding away at the tooth structure like diamond burs, cut and chip away at it, leaving a far smoother finish. These are easier to work with when it comes to removing metal-based restorations, as well as trimming and polishing macro-filled and hybrid composites. The most common type of carbide burst shank is friction grip, however RA latch shanks are also widely available.

Wrapping Up!

When employing a carbide bur, small blades slice away little portions of the tooth, however when using a diamond bur, the tooth is ground down and left with a rough surface that must be polished afterwards with a separate instrument. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, making them both valuable additions to a dentist’s toolkit.

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