Dentists use dental burs in many procedures, from fillings to veneers and crown and bridge preparation. You’ll find many types of burs in dentistry. But how do you choose between coarse vs fine grit dental burs?
Coarse grit dental burs remove dental material quickly. Dentists use coarse burs in tooth extractions and for clearing away decayed material.
Fine grit dental burs produce a smooth, polished surface. They’re best used for finishing touches or in veneer applications or preparing margins for restorations.
We’ll address the differences between coarse and fine grit dental burs below. Each plays an important role in different situations. So, you’ll likely need both in your arsenal. My DDS Supply has dental burs for every use. You can stock your office with all the tools you need for your practice at a great price with one click.
What Are Coarse Dental Burs?
Coarse dental burs have a coating of industrial-grade diamond grit. The grit size used ranges between 105 and 149 μm (micrometers). That’s about ¼ to ⅓ the size of the grit used in 40 grit sandpaper.
You’ll usually see a green ring around a coarse dental bur’s shank. This is the commonly accepted standard, and it helps with proper dental bur organization.
Common Uses and Advantages
Dentists use coarse dental burs in crown and bridge preparations. A coarse bur shapes the tooth quickly so the prosthetic fits. You can also use coarse burs to remove old ceramic crowns. (When removing amalgam fillings, dentists typically choose carbide burs vs diamond burs).
To fill a cavity, you first must remove the decayed tooth material and create a space for the amalgam. Coarse dental burs strip that material away quickly and give you a clear hole where you can apply the filling.
Coarse burs can give you access to impacted teeth by removing or reshaping the surrounding teeth or bone. You can also use a coarse bur to break a multi-rooted tooth into smaller pieces for easier extraction.
Limitations and Considerations
Like coarse grit sandpaper, coarse dental burs leave a rough surface. They’re best used for the initial stages of a procedure. They’re also a bad choice for polishing purposes. Use coarse grit burs for the beginning stages of the procedure, and rely on fine burs for finishing.
What Are Fine Dental Burs?
Fine dental burs use a smaller diamond grit, generally around 46 to 50 μm. This smaller grit makes them ideal for polishing purposes. Fine grit burs have a red ring around their shank.
Common Uses and Advantages
A fine bur gives you more control over the operation after clearing out an area with a coarse bur. Use fine burs to counter the cusps, ridges, and grooves of a tooth. This results in a smooth margin for restoration fittings.
Dentists choose fine burs to prepare for veneer procedures. The fine grit ensures a smooth surface that will adhere well to the porcelain veneers. You can also use fine burs in dental lab work. Fine grit burs let you shape and counter prosthetics in high detail.
Fine grit burs help you correct malocclusions. Improperly aligned teeth or restorations can cause jaw pain, difficulty in chewing, and other issues. With a fine grit bur you can adjust the tooth precisely without removing too much enamel.
Limitations and Considerations
When comparing coarse vs fine grit burs, coarse grit removes more dental material in a shorter time. Using fine grit to clear out large amounts of bone or enamel will take longer, increasing your work time and patient discomfort.
Coarse vs Fine Grit Dental Burs: Key Differences to Consider
Be clear - you need both fine and coarse grit burs in your dental practice. They ultimately serve different purposes. If you’re not sure how to choose the right dental bur for a specific procedure, though, these tips may help.
Cutting Speed and Efficiency
Choose coarse grit burs when you need to remove a substantial amount of dental material. A coarse bur will get the job done faster if you’re trying to reach an impacted wisdom tooth or working on an old porcelain crown. This saves you time and makes your patient happier.
Surface Finish and Post-Op Smoothing
You need a fine grit dental bur when you’re polishing a restoration. Coarse dental burs leave a rough surface that retains plaque and can lead to staining and gingival irritation. Fine dental burs produce a smooth surface that looks and feels good.
Control, Precision, and Heat Generation
Coarse diamond burs create greater heat and require more water for cooling because they have greater friction. They can also strip away healthy tooth and bone material along with the stuff you want to replace, so you need to be really careful
Fine diamond burs give you much greater control and precision, and generate less heat. They’re the diamond bur you choose when you need to put the finishing touches on an inclusion adjustment or a prosthetic fitting.
Bur Longevity and Durability
Coarse grit burs do harder, heavier work. That leads to faster physical wear on the diamonds. Fine grit bar procedures generally involve lighter pressure, as they’re most often used for polishing, smoothing, and finishing.
That said, a slightly worn coarse grit bur may still function well for clearing out dental material. The same degree of wear might render a fine grit bur unsuitable for polishing. Proper cleaning and appropriate use will extend the lives of both fine and coarse burs.
Cost Considerations
Cost isn’t a major factor when choosing between coarse vs fine grit burs. You’ll pay the same price for each at My DDS Supply. But fine grit burs may wear out faster, so you may find yourself restocking them a bit more frequently.
Best Use Cases by Procedure Type
Consider the dental procedure when choosing between coarse vs fine grit burs. Coarse grit burs remove material quickly, so they’re best for:
- Bulk reductions for crowns and bridges
- Removing ceramic or zirconia crowns and old composite fillings
- Initial shaping or enameloplasty for extensive restorations
- Surgical procedures involving hard tissue
- Osteotomy, ostectomy, and tooth shaping
Fine grit burs are best for:
- Finishing and polishing restorations
- Smoothing and refining preparation margins
- Anatomical contouring for cosmetic recontouring or correcting malocclusion
- Veneer preparation
- Orthodontic adhesive removal
- Creating detailed surface contours in composite work or dental lab preparation
But like we said, you need both of these solutions in your dentistry arsenal. We make it easy to stock up on both at the same time here at My DDS Supply.
Stock Up On Any Dental Bur Style at My DDS Supply
My DDS Supply carries all the dental burs you’ll ever need for your practice! We’re the eBay of online dental supply stores. When you’re looking for the best dental products and unbeatable prices, you can count on us to deliver quality goods.
We stock both fine grit and coarse grit dental burs, as well as burs for high-speed and low-speed uses. And we carry carbide burs in addition to diamond grit burs.
What Makes Our Dental Burs the Industry’s #1 Choice?
We only offer high-quality products, so you can rely on our selection for your dental practice. And we ship quickly, because we know dentists need to have the right tools on hand for every procedure.
You’re busy. That’s why we made sure our online ordering system is as seamless as possible. It’s easy to stock up on all the dental burs you need in a range of shapes, sizes, and grits. Everything you need is at your fingertips with My DDS Supply.
More Things to Consider Beyond Grit Classification When Sourcing Burs
What is a dental bur used for? Lots of dental procedures, and you need to consider more than grit size when deciding which bur you need. Some other factors include:
- Shape: Dental burs come in a variety of shapes, including round burs, pear burs, football burs, and fissure burs. Each shape has different preferred uses.
- Material: While dental diamond burs offer precision and cutting efficiency, dental carbide burs are known for their sharpness and durability.
- Size: Use smaller bur heads for detailed work and access to smaller areas. Larger bur heads offer more efficiency for bulk reduction.
Don’t stress if you’re unsure which burs are right for you. Get in touch with our customer service team and we’ll help you stock up on all the essentials you need today!
Wrapping Up Our Comparison of Coarse vs Fine Grit Dental Burs
That ends our guide to coarse vs fine grit dental burs. To sum up the main differences, coarse grit dental burs remove large amounts of tooth structure and enamel. Fine grit dental burs remove less material and are useful for polishing and shaping.
We not only offer a wide selection of dental burs, but also all the supplies you need for fillings and extractions, from gauze and tray sleeves to irrigation syringes, drills, and more.
We offer low prices, fast shipping, and world-class customer support. You’ll always have the right tools on hand for every procedure when you shop at My DDS Supply. Browse our site today and stock up on all the dental supplies you need.