So Many Burs, Which One to Choose?

From sharpness to strength, a California dentist shares why he uses 3 NeoDiamond burs from Microcopy, the leader in single-patient-use diamond burs

Burs are to dentists what pencil is to paper—one is never far from the other. With hundreds of similar burs on the market, a favorite of one dentist may very well be an obscure choice for another. Despite those differences, it’s always helpful to learn how fellow clinicians use different burs in their individual workflows.

For Raihan Nazir, DDS, MSC, (FFDRCSI), of Smile Magic Dentistry in Anaheim Hills, Newport Beach, and Placentia, CA, choosing certain burs for specific tasks is very much a personal decision.

raihan nazir dds msc

“The quality of Microcopy burs is consistent and I never see the diamond chipping away."

- Raihan Nazir, DDS, MSc (FFDRCSI)

“I have a busy practice comprised predominately of full-mouth rehabs,” Dr. Nazir noted. “I use Microcopy burs almost exclusively in my offices because I need fresh burs, and the best burs available,” he continued.

End Cutter Bur

end cutter bur

The NeoDiamond End Cutter Bur, part of Microcopy’s Specialty Diamond product line, is primarily designed to shape the floor of mesial and distal tooth preparations for Class II cavities, while not affecting the surface of adjacent teeth. The End Cutter Bur is available in 1.2-, 1.4-, and 1.6-mm sizes and sold 10 per pack.

Occlusal Reduction Bur

occlusal reduction bur

Moving on in his discussion about “go-to” burs, Dr. Nazir also detailed his experience using Microcopy’s NeoDiamond Occlusal Reduction Bur, a specially designed bur that allows clinicians superior access to a tooth’s pits and fissures from a vertical orientation.

“What I find with the Occlusal Reduction Bur from Microcopy is that, very quickly, I can prepare my occlusal,” Dr. Nazir pointed out. “We all know that the longer you’re cutting the tooth, the more harmful trauma and inflammation that can be created. This bur is sharp and allows me to work quickly and efficiently—it also greatly improves the outcome for the patient and I’ve found that fewer teeth are eventually going in for root canal treatment.”

Modified Flat End Taper

modified flat end taper

Another bur that Dr. Nazir reaches for often in his operatory is Microcopy’s NeoDiamond Modified Flat End Taper, largely due to its effectiveness with reaching posterior teeth, especially the lower teeth where there is very little clearance. Since his practice does primarily CAD/CAM restorations, he works most often with porcelain veneers and zirconium, which require margins to be stronger and wider.

“In these situations, you really want to use a shorter bur at a lower speed to create a perfect margin,” he explained. “In fact, this bur is perfect for the distal of posterior teeth because I always want more control to be able to slow down and go over the edges. It makes perfect margins on molars.” Overall, Dr. Nazir has been using Microcopy burs in his practice for more than 10 years.

“I’ve always reached for Microcopy,” he added. “The quality of Microcopy burs is consistent and I never see the diamond chipping away. Additionally, the pricing structure is superior to the other brands on the market.”