How to Determine whether Dental Burs need to be Replaced?

Methods for judging whether dental high speed diamond burs need to be replaced:

1.Observe the State of the Diamond Grains

First, shedding situation. If the diamond grains on the surface of the bur are found to be obviously shedding during use or after cleaning, such as a large area without diamond grains on the bur, or diamond grains are found to remain in the patient’s mouth after operating the patient’s mouth, this indicates that the diamond grain adhesion of the bur has decreased, which may affect the subsequent use effect and need to be considered for replacement. Because the falling of diamond grains will cause uneven grinding ability of the bur, it may leave uneven marks on the tooth surface, or fail to effectively remove carious tissue, etc.

Second, wear degree. When the diamond grains are worn to a certain extent, their sharpness is significantly reduced, and the bur should also be replaced. The wear of diamond grains can be observed through a magnifying glass or microscope. Under normal circumstances, diamond grains are relatively sharp and can effectively cut and grind. As the number of uses increases, the particles will gradually become blunt. For example, after the bur has been used for a period of time, if it is found that it becomes more difficult to grind on the tooth surface, and more pressure than before is required to achieve the same grinding effect, this may be a signal of diamond grain wear and needs to be replaced.

2.Check the Integrity of the Shape of the Bur

First, Deformation. Due to the high speed rotation and various external forces that may be applied to the bur during operation, it may be deformed. If the shape of the bur changes, such as bending or twisting, it will affect its normal operating function. You can check whether it is deformed by visual observation or rolling the bur on a flat surface. For example, for a tapered bur, if the taper of the bur changes, it will not be possible to accurately remove carious tissue or shape the tooth shape according to the expected shape and angle during tooth preparation.

Second, damage to the cutting edge. Some burs have specific cutting edges designed for cutting and other operations. If the cutting edge is damaged by notches, cracks or blunting, it will seriously affect the performance of the bur. For example, when using a bur with a cutting edge for pulp opening or cutting a restoration, damage to the cutting edge will cause unsmooth cutting and reduced efficiency, and may cause unnecessary damage to the tooth structure or restorative materials.

3.Number of Times the Bur is Used and Work Efficiency

First, use limit. Generally speaking, the manufacturer will have certain recommendations on the number of times the bur is used. Even if the bur does not appear to be obviously damaged in appearance, it should be considered for replacement if the recommended upper limit of use has been reached. This is because as the number of uses increases, the internal structure of the bur may be fatigued, and the performance of the diamond grains will gradually decline. Even if the surface has not changed significantly, its actual work efficiency may have been greatly reduced.

Second, reduced work efficiency. In clinical operations, if it is found that the grinding speed of the bur is significantly slower under the same operating conditions (such as the same speed, the same pressure, etc.), or it takes longer to complete operations that were previously easy to complete, such as removing the same amount of tooth tissue or making the same degree of adjustment to the restoration, this indicates that the work efficiency of the bur has decreased and may need to be replaced.

DYM diamond burs are sharp and wear-resistant. Each one is expected to cut 5 teeth. It is a dental bur that dentists must have every day.