The evaluation of wear of tungsten carbide dental bur

Abstract

Due to its durability, tungsten carbide has long been used as a material to produce dental burs. WC– Co burs are designed for smooth, efficient cutting and extended life. Dental burs are available in different sizes and shapes, for example round burs, pear and cylinder-shaped, egg-shaped, as well as there are various tapered ones, which enable an individual selection of the drill for the right treatment. Carbides can be used for standard crowns and bridges, for extensive surgical procedures and they should minimize damage to the existing teeth. The design of WC–Co dental bur reduces a patient’s discomfort because of the operating time and the fact that its liquidity is preserved. The head of the bur (the cutting edge) delivers optimum concentricity and strength. The shank is made from stainless steel allowing a bur to be autoclaved multiple times without the risk of corrosion. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the wear of a tungsten carbide dental bur. The results of stereoscopy microscope and SEM/EDS analysis are presented.

Evaluation of enamel roughness after orthodontic debonding and clean-up procedures using zirconia, tungsten carbide, and white stone burs: an in vitro study

“…The head of the bur can vary in shapes, sizes, and flutes depending on the different applications and materials. The flutes can also vary in number, from 6 to 8 for cutting burs, 12 to 20 for finishing burs, and more than 20 for polishing burs [ 19 ]. The tungsten carbide burs are preferred for removing ductile materials like composite resins because the rotation of these burs generates high shear forces between the bur’s blades and the resin surface which causes plastic plowing of the resin [ 20 ].…”