7 Common Mistakes You're Making

Whether it is to extend the life of your burs, avoid pain for the patient, or avoid breakage of the handpiece, you will certainly want to know the precautions to take when using your dental burs.

1. Use worn or dull burs

The bad idea:

Maximize the cost of the bur by using it as much as possible; however, it will take you longer to complete the same task than with a bur in good condition.

The right thing to do:

Change your burs BEFORE EACH use. Even if you inspect your bur, you may not see signs of wear or damage, it is important to replace them after every use. Damaged burs can damage the handpiece and cause pain to the patient.

2. Applying excessive pressure to the bur

The bad idea:

Applying pressure will make the bur more effective and we save time.

The thing to do:

Too much pressure could cause unwanted heat and bur failure. In fact, applying pressure to the bur is very often a sign that the bur needs to be replaced. Damaged burs may damage the handpiece and cause pain to the patient.

3. Removing the bur at too steep an angle

The bad idea:

When the bur seems difficult to remove, we tend to move it around to find the easiest angle to remove it from the handpiece.

The right thing to do:

Always remove the bur when it is in a neutral position in the handpiece. This will prevent potential breakage of the bur, but also the internal parts of your handpiece. Do not force the bur into the handpiece. If access is difficult, check the handpiece turbine and bur, and refer to the handpiece troubleshooting instructions.

4. Keep the bur in a static position during use

The bad idea:

Leave the bur in the same place on the tooth to reduce the cutting or procedure time.

The right thing to do:

To avoid localized heating and bur damage, move it continuously when in use.

5. Not checking the condition of your handpieces

The wrong idea:

Not taking the time to check the general condition of your handpieces before each dental procedure.

The right thing to do:

Check the condition of your handpieces, mainly the jaws of your high speed. This will ensure that the device is operating at peak efficiency and that the bur is firmly installed for better drill stability and therefore, greater accuracy in your work.

6. Not having burs in stock

The bad idea:

Order your burs only when you need to replace them.

The right thing to do:

Always have a complete supply of your favorite burs and a few more specialized ones will allow you to perform all types of dental cases hassle-free!

7. Using chemicals and dry heat to sterilize diamond burs

The bad idea:

The use of dry heat and chemicals has not been approved.

The right thing to do:

Steam sterilize your diamond burs with your autoclave according to the diamond burs manufacturer’s instructions AND the maximum load indicated by the autoclave manufacturer.

Summary: