Tungsten Carbide Dental Burs Description
Tungsten carbide dental burs are manufactured from a single piece of tungsten carbide (TC) or from a TC tip brazed onto a surgical steel stem. The range includes patterns designed to meet the needs of all surgery and laboratory applications.

Tungsten Carbide Dental Burs Applications
Tungsten carbide dental burs can be used to cut or polish a wide variety of materials encountered in dentistry. These include tooth material such as enamel, dentine and bone, dental materials such as amalgam, composite, glass-ionomer cements, polymer and ceramic veneers and precious and not-precious alloys. The bur pattern will be selected to cut a specific material in a specific application and the following table gives guidance on selection.

Safety in Tungsten Carbide Dental Burs Use
Eye protection must be worn to protect against ejected particles.
Surgical mask must be worn to avoid inhalation of aerosol or dust generated.
Inspect the bur for broken flutes before each use and discard defective burs.
Ensure that the bur is fully seated and gripped in the handpiece collet.
Maintain handpieces in good working order and correctly lubricated.
Do not exceed the maximum speeds tabulated above.
Move the bur continuously when in use to avoid localized heating.
Clean and sterilize the burs in accordance with the directions below before first use an before each reuse.

These instructions are applicable to the processing of tungsten carbide, diamond and steel dental rotary instruments before first use and each reuse. Dental rotary instruments are supplied mechanically clean but are not sterile. They should therefore be sterilized before first use. Steel burs are single use devices and the instructions therefore only apply to processing before first use.

Used burs should be considered as contaminated and appropriate handling precautions should be taken during reprocessing. Gloves, eye protection and a mask should be worn. Other measures may be required if there are specific infection or cross-contamination risks from the patient.

With the exception of steel burs, which are single use devices, reprocessing will have little effect on dental burs. The end of life is determined by wear and damage in use and the burs should be inspected for defects during the preliminary cleaning process.
 

Unless there is specific infection or cross-contamination risks, there are no special requirements for containment. The burs can be transported wet or dry and should be protected from damage to the cutting edges. If transported wet there is an increased chance of staining or corrosion. Prolonged storage in disinfectant solutions may result in corrosion and should be avoided.