Dental burs

Re: Dental burs

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:15:30 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]The original post was prompted by questions from the nurse about which burs to use (mainly to assist tooth extraction!)[/quote]

For tooth division: crosscut tapered fissure bur, tungsten carbide, or equivalent diamond shape; most people prefer tungsten carbide.

For bone smoothing and trimming afterwards (or odontoplasty as we doctors call it) if necessary: a round bur, or a "pear shaped" (FG169). Tungsten carbide or diamond. Slightly controversial: some hold you should be doing that with suitably sized rongeurs and I'm inclined to agree.

Treat burs as disposable or at least semi-disposable: don't use them more than a couple of times. I usually throw them away after one patient.

You can get truly disposable diamond burs in certain shapes: you buy them twenty-five at a time, less than a pound each, and they come in individual sterile packets on a roll

Re: Dental burs

Bob Russell — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:05:36 GMT

I think he fitted in well! Like a number of others here he was right and everyone else was wrong!

I appreciate a glimpse into a different world from time to time so I thought it was great to have opinions from a human dentist. I respect fellow professionals and would not dream of criticising the way they do things without taking a time to work out why they do them that particular way!

Veterinary dentistry is far from perfect but has improved by leaps and bounds over the last decade or so when carried out by the half competent! I like to think I can do the basics pretty well and know when I have reached the limits of my expertise and need to shout for help.

The original post was prompted by questions from the nurse about which burs to use (mainly to assist tooth extraction!) and I realised that my choice was based more on 'that looks about right' rather than knowledge!!

Re: Dental burs

Anthony Todd — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:40:13 GMT

Sorry, must pay attention more!

Re: Dental burs

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:19:51 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]Think he means that human dentist that did veterinary dentistry on the side as a money earner. The one that told us we were all wrong in the way we treated dental cases...[/quote]

Didn't like him. Not one bit. Shame the red stars were turned off at the time.

Re: Dental burs

Anthony Dennison — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:09:39 GMT

Think he means that human dentist that did veterinary dentistry on the side as a money earner. The one that told us we were all wrong in the way we treated dental cases...

Re: Dental burs

Anthony Todd — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:49:36 GMT

[quote user="patrick murphy"]

where has our mystery dentist gone?

[/quote]

Just a couple of posts above yours, mate.

Re: Dental burs

patrick murphy — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:18:06 GMT

where has our mystery dentist gone?

Re: Dental burs

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:46:49 GMT

I wouldn't dream of writing it, but I'd love to read it!

Re: Dental burs

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:22:23 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Going back to very basics but which burs do other vets use? There are a bewildering array out there and I tend to have a look at what is available and select the best candidate for the job![/quote]

Not such a bad approach.

Most out of the bewildering array have no application in veterinary work anyway!

[quote user="Bob Russell"]I have to admit I find the classification somewhat baffling as well.[/quote]

You are not the only one. There is an ISO classification but some types are produced outside it I think, in the catalogues the ISO is given for some and not others, each manufacturer seems to have their own numbering system, the dental wholesalers sometimes do and sometimes don't use yet another numbering system, and the veterinary dealers sometimes don't understand any of it anyway!

For what purposes do you wish to select burs, Bob? That's the first question.

By the way, would an In Practice article something on the lines of "An Introduction to Burs" be a good idea? Who would be interested?

Re: Dental burs

Anthony Todd — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:14:29 GMT

See image in gallery of handy saw for cutting teeth like a hot knife through butter and so much more modern than the totally effective junior hacksaw.

Some still use straight sided cutting bur though...