Dental burs are an essential accessory required by dentists or Technical Staff during dental procedures and other techniques.

As is common knowledge, burs serve different purposes, including grinding, polishing, finishing, etc. In dentistry, both diamond burs and carbide burs are well-known and widely utilized.

Today, we will discuss the differences between diamond and carbide burs.

Definition of Diamond burs and Carbide burs

What are diamond burs?

Diamond burs (ISO 806) consist of a stainless-steel frame covered with diamond powder, which is offered in a variety of grits. The grit level determines the technique for which the burs can be utilized.

They are extremely powerful and precise, capable of grinding through tough tissue with accuracy.

And the favored choice of dentists worldwide for preparing crowns by grinding through natural tooth enamel as well as materials such as porcelain. The precision of diamond burs prevents any harm to the interior pulp tissue of the tooth.

As one of the hardest known substances, diamond is frequently used to cut through zirconia and grind porcelain during the preparation and placement of veneers and crowns.

What are Carbide burs?

Carbide burs (ISO 500) are composed of tungsten carbide, a super-hard, very resistant chemical compound (WC). Tungsten carbide burs are three times tougher than steel, making them ideal for drilling and cutting.

As a result, tungsten carbide is widely employed in numerous applications, including machining, surgery, and dentistry. For preparing teeth for cavity fillings or removing fillings, they are excellent instruments.

We can find the differences based on the following characteristics:

1. Precision: Diamond burs are composed of diamond grit and mostly used for grinding.

Carbide burs, which are composed of Tungsten Carbide, are excellent for cutting.Thus, diamond bur grinding is superior to carbide bur cutting.With diamond burs, there is also a reduced risk of damaging the inner pulp area of the tooth.

2. Durability: Both diamond and WC are exceptionally durable substances. Diamond burs lose cutting effectiveness more dramatically than carbide burs over time, resulting in a shorter lifespan. Additionally, they are more resistant to heat.

3. Diamond burs are most used with high-speed handpieces, available as a friction grip shank.

Carbide burs are most commonly available as a friction grip shank, but RA latch-type shanks are also widely available.Better handling for removing metal-based restorations, they are also effective for trimming and finishing macro-filled and hybrid composites.

4. Usages:

1. Both Tungsten carbide burs and diamond burs can be utilized for deburring, finishing, smoothing, and shaping. But Tungsten carbide burs are more resistant to high temperatures than other materials, allowing them to operate for longer periods.

2. Diamond burs are more useful for carving into stone as compared to tungsten carbide burs, so the main choice selection of material is dependent on the application.

Here we have a question, diamond burs or carbide burs, which produce more heat?

As a result, diamond burs generated somewhat more heat than tungsten carbide burs.

5. Diamond burs often get clogged with debris, and the grinding motion swiftly degrades the instrument.

   Carbide burs,the cuts made in the head of the bur make them effective cutting instruments as there is very little build-up in debris.

6. Smoothness: Carbide burs cut and chip away the tooth structure, as opposed to grinding it like diamond burs do, resulting in a far smoother finish than diamond burs.

7. Zirconia cutting burs: Cutting and removing zirconia crowns can be rather difficult. Diamond burs are more suitable for the task than carbide burs due to their high-speed grind. The same remains good for ceramic crown fabrication.

When ultra-precision cutting is required, diamond burs are a better option than carbide burs.

How long do diamond burs last?

Diamond burs degrade after repeated usage and should be replaced after no more than five tooth preparations. After try-in operations with metal or zirconia substructures, a diamond bur should not be utilized to prepare the teeth.