Both tungsten carbide and diamond burs are specialized dental instruments used in various dental procedures Each of these dental instruments is available in varying shapes, head angles, and blade geometry for carbide burs or grit size for diamond burs. Are both better known for their superior cutting capabilities and durability but carbide and diamond burs are far from interchangeable.

Anatomy of a Dental Bur
Whether made out of carbide or diamond, a bur is made in three main parts: The top, neck, and shank. The head is made up of the blades or grit and it is what exactly is employed to cut or grind the information under consideration. This can be made from many methods from gold to diamonds, each which has a specific purpose.

Diamond Burs – Dental Instruments
Diamond burs are made from a stainless steel body bonded with diamond powder and come in various grit sizes. The medial side from the head and grit size choose what type of procedures the bur can be utilized in. Diamond burs can easily grind away hard tissues (like enamel) and bone. Because of them being created from one of many hardest materials on earth they are ideal for cutting through harder materials that other burs have a problem with like Zirconia and lithium disilicate (please visit our Magic Touch line when you use most of these materials). Dental diamond burs can be used to cut through Zirconia or grind porcelain when shaping and placing crowns or veneers. They will often be used to grind down tooth structures to acheive proper fits for crowns or veneers.

One of several drawbacks of diamond burs is they aren’t ideal for shaping materials including metals because they are prone to dulling themselves in the operation and also overheating.

Tungsten Carbide Burs
Tungsten carbide dental burs or even more typically referred to as just carbide burs are constructed with tungsten carbide which is 3 times stronger than steel which is able to withstand high temperatures. This allows carbide dental burs to use a lot longer than other burs without losing their edge. These characteristics make them perfect for excavating cavities, shaping bone, removing impacted teeth, and many other procedures. Because of carbide burs using blades they could reduce vibrations (“chatter”) and in turn discomfort for patients.

An additional advantage of carbide burs could be the capacity to cut through metal. Our specifically created Barracuda metal-cutting burs allow dentists to tackle the toughest metal-cutting challenges like butter and saving time with their multi-functional performance.

Single-Use & Multi-Use
Diamond burs are also available in two separate options: single-use and multi-use. The single-use diamond bur enables the user to get a sterile and sharp bur for each new patient. Multi-use however is a more durable bur that offers a lower priced option since the user is able to sterilize these burs. An additional benefit is these burs are created for longevity making you able to get via an entire procedure with simply one bur where with single-use burs you might want to use more than one to complete an action.

Overall carbide and diamond burs are functionally different. When utilizing a carbide bur the bur is applying small blades to slice away small pieces of the teeth while with diamond burs you might be grinding your tooth down and leaving it using a rough surface that requires polishing afterwards using a separate tool. Every one has its own benefits and weaknesses which makes both of them a fundamental part of an oral professional’s arsenal.
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