Dental burs are an integral part of a dentist’s toolbox These tools have long been used to assist in the performance of dental surgery. In any particular procedure, a dental bur is used to cut parts of a tooth or to remove bone. Find out more about what oral surgery burs consist of and how they are used in modern times.
The Mechanics of a Dental Bur
It is surprising that the dental bur’s design has persisted for hundreds of years. Most are comprised of the same material. These oral surgery burs are often made of diamond grit and stainless steel. Some parts may even contain tungsten carbide. The bur as a whole can be attached to a specialized dental drill for use in surgery. An air turbine is also necessary to activate the blades in the head of the device.
There are a few specific parts to the average surgery bur. First, there is a shank portion that adds length to the bur. Near the top of the bur, you will find the neck area. At the end of the neck is the head, which also houses the cutting blades. These blades are all angled differently to assist in the drilling motion. Overall, there are many different styles of dental burs that all serve a particular purpose.
Putting an Oral Surgery Bur to Use
Dentists and oral surgeons receive years of training to learn how to use a bur properly. This includes learning how to choose the correct bur for the job and how to apply it to teeth or hard tissues. In most cases, a bur will be used to grind down a tooth. Once this is done, the tooth’s surface is prepped for crowns of other fittings. Burs are also used for polishing ceramic and porcelain surfaces. Due to this, most dental offices make significant use of burs on a regular basis.
The Benefits of Burs
All in all, burs help dentists perform complicated procedures to restore oral health. Most dentists will have a large selection of different shapes and sizes. These tools form an important part of a dentist’s practice.