Ultimate Guide to Dental Burs: Classification, Types, Shapes and Use Cases

It can be confusing to find the perfect bur, with an endless choice of shapes, size, materials and colours. This guide to dental burs will help you understand how burs are classified, their various materials they are made of and their clinical applications.

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What are Dental Burs?

Burs are rotary instruments that are designed for cutting hard tissues such as tooth enamel or bone. Burs come in a range of shapes, sizes and grits with two or more sharp-edge blades and multiple cutting edges. Dental burs are an essential part of everyday general dentistry, used in various procedures including cavity preparation, crown work and orthodontics.

Historically used in the preparation of tooth restoration as basic cutting devices, science and technology have driven the development of the ubiquitous bur to new heights, now encompassing an enormous range of options to deliver a variety of dental procedures.

The History of Classification of Dental Burs

Dental Burs are classified across various materials, shapes, grit and shank type to suit specific use-cases and assist with delicate procedures.

However, due to the wide range of burs that exist across these varieties, brands and form factors, dental institutions came together to identify and regulate them within a universal classification system. This has evolved over time to become more simplified to aid with easy and accurate bur identification.

SS White System - 1891

The first dental bur numbering system to be created was by the SS White Company which classified machine-made burs on 9 shapes and 11 sizes.

American Dental Association (ADA) System - 1955

ADA adopted the SS White System and refined it to be more simplistic with only 2 digits that designate a bur, making it easy to remember. However, this classification was limited to head shape and cutting head only, which leaves out the other crucial characteristics of a dental bur. These earlier systems were also restricted to stainless steel (SS) and tungsten carbide burns, meaning diamond burs weren’t included.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Specification 6360 – 1979

The ISO system, looked to define the various components of a bur encapsulated in a 15-digit number. The string specified each component within five sets of three digits:

1. Material: Material influences a bur’s cutting action. A carbide bur (500) slices, cutting away small sections of tooth for reshaping, whereas a diamond bur (806/807) grind the tooth away.
2. Shank Type and Bur Length: This is the longest part of a bur and is used to specify the bur to its respective handpiece (FG, RA or HP) and it’s length. For example, 314 = Standard Friction Grip, 204 = Latch Type RA.
3. Head Shape: This component contains the blade, or abrasive face of the bur, which is used for cutting, grinding and polishing. For example, 001 stands for round and 010 for inverted cone. The shape is critical to clinical application.
4. Grit Size: Grit is the term used to categorise the abrasive material on diamond dental burs ONLY. Other bur types cut rather than abrade and therefore receive the code 000. The higher the grade of grit, the coarser the material. Coarse grit creates a rough surface, and is used for quick, rough shaping of tough material, or bulk material removal. Fine creates a smoother surface and is less abrasive. 
5. Head Diameter: Expressed in hundredths of a millimetre, e.g. 016 = 1.6 mm, the diameter greatly influences precision and access required.

 

In this way, The Unodent Sterile Diamond Bur Round FG 520 Medium, breaks down into 806‑314‑001‑524‑520:

• 806 – Material: Diamond (electroplated)
• 314 – Shank: FG shank, 19 mm length
• 001 – Head shape: Round bur shape
• 524 – Grit size: Medium grit
• 520 – Head diameter: 52 mm head diameter

What are Dental Burs Made of?

Rapidly robust and of high quality, dental burs are made of steel, stainless steel, tungsten carbide, ceramic, zirconia and diamond grit.

What Dental Treatments Are Diamond Burs Used For?

Diamond Burs are usually used in tooth preparation, finishing and contouring. They work well on enamel, ceramics and composite materials. Their abrasive surface, available in several grits makes them ideal for:

• Essential in Crown & Veneer Preparation: precise margin shaping require clean, smooth lines for proper seating and minimal irregularities to avoid microleakage. In this case, tapered diamond burs with flat or rounded ends are best suited to create these finish lines without gouging or chipping.
• Interproximal Reduction (IPR): The smooth control offered by diamond burs allow for precise removal of enamel from between teeth for orthodontic or cosmetic adjustments.
• Composite Finishing: great for producing detailed and smooth shaping restorations.
• Harder Material Adjustment: harder materials such as zirconia and ceramics require precise adjustments to achieve the right fit and margin without fractures.
• Endodontics: controlled reduction and fine finishing allows for clean access through enamel and porcelain.

 

What Dental Treatments Are Tungsten Carbide Burs Used For?

Tungsten Carbide Burs are primarily used in restorative, surgical and prosthodontic dental treatments. They are preferred when controlled, efficient and clean cutting is necessary — especially on enamel, dentine and metal restorations. Due to their hardness, they are used across:

• Cavity Preparation: Used for excavating and preparing cavities for fillings, removal of old filling material, and contouring bone.

• Crown and Bridge Work: Their sharpness and efficiency allow for precise tooth structure reduction, removal of impacted teeth, and separation of crowns and bridges.

• Restoration Removal: Effective at removing metal restorations and trimming or finishing composites and amalgams.

• Surgical Procedures: Surgical carbide burs are used to section teeth and contour bone during complex extractions or surgeries.

 

 

What Dental Treatments Are Ceramic Burs Used For?

• Trimming and Acrylic Adjustments: Alumina burs are ideal for trimming acrylics, dentures, composites, night guards, and temporary crowns with minimal heat and smooth control.

• Soft Tissue Management: Suitable for minimally invasive soft tissue contouring in both surgical and restorative procedures, improving crown/veneer fit and aesthetics. Also useful in paediatric cases for gentle intervention.

• Hard Ceramic Restorations: Zirconia burs, with aggressive cutting action, are capable of cutting through zirconia, lithium disilicate, and other monolithic ceramics.

What are the Different Types of Dental Bur Shape?

Dental Bur shape greatly influences what precise procedure you are undertaking. Apart from common shapes such as round, pear, flame, cross-cut tapered fissure, cylinder and inverted cone there exists several informal specialised shapes without common ISO codes:

Bur Diagram	Bur Shape & Use	Buy
	Round or Ball or Rose Head Bur (001) Caries removal, endodontic access, smoothing cavity walls and bone surgery.	Buy
	Barrel Bur Used for bulk reduction especially on occlusal surfaces, and for smoothing large flat areas.	Buy
	Double Cone Bur (037) Aggressive bulk cutting of enamel or restorative materials.	Buy
	Torpedo Bur (284) Torpedo burs are ideal for precise contouring, margin finishing, and accessing deeper areas	Buy
	Cylinder Bur (107) Parallel wall prep, box form, bulk material reduction in cavity or crown prep.	Buy
	Cylinder Flat End Bur Used in flat occlusal surface preparation in crown and cavity work.	Buy
	Cylinder Round End Bur Ideal for smoothing internal line angles and bulk reduction. Used in crown and bridge prep with rounded shoulder margins.	Buy
	Pear Bur (330) Used in cavity preparation and creating access points. Great for bulk removal and precise contouring.	Buy
	Inverted Cone Bur (010) Used to undercut access opening for root canals or for restorations. Also used for flattening pulpal or gingival walls.	Buy
	Tapered Round End Bur Useful for crown and bridge prep, creating smooth internal angles and chamfer finish line creation.	Buy
	Tapered Flat End Bur Used for crown preparation with shoulder margins. Creates sharp internal lines.	Buy
	Tapered Point Bur Offers precision and tight access. Used for initial penetration into enamel and veneer preparation.	Buy
	Bulk Reducer Bur Used for crown and bridge preparation, as well as preparing cavities, and removing decayed material.	Buy
	Flame Bur (243) For preparation, contouring, and finishing.	Buy
	Wheel Bur (040-060, 045-049) Used for occlusal adjustments, bulk material removal, and polishing.	Buy
	Egg / Oval or Football Bur Finishing occlusal surfaces, contouring composites, polishing restorative margins.	Buy
	Bullet / Pointed Pear Bur Interproximal finishing, access to narrow areas, veneer prep.	Buy
	End-Cutting / Safety Tip Bur Safe for preparing internal cavity walls without damaging the pulp or floor.	Buy
	Needle / Pin Bur Fine access in endodontics or fissure prep.	Buy
	Interproximal Bur Offers tight access, used for smoothing, polishing and IPR. Also helps to remove bonding resin after bracket removal, with minimal enamel damage.	Buy
	Twister Bur Efficient cutting with spiral flutes for endodontic access, implant prep, or rapid material removal with improved debris clearance. Often used in surgical or implantology kits.	Buy
	Lindemann Bur A surgical bur designed for side-cutting, precise sectioning and implant placement.	Buy
	X-Mass Tree Bur Trimming, finishing, especially in posterior composites or occlusal adjustments	Buy
	Lance Bur Initial penetration of enamel, fissure exploration, access cavity starting point.	Buy
	Depth Cutting or Veneer Bur Labial surface reduction, precision shaping for veneer preparations.	Buy

 

 

 

What Different Grit Sizes Exist for Dental Burs?

Grit Size only applies to diamond burs, as they abrade, rather than cut. Like sandpaper, diamond burs come in different grades of coarseness or ‘grit size’. In essence, the abrasiveness varies to suit different jobs. The harsher the grit, the more tooth surface will be removed. Finer grits are best suited to work that requires finite detail, such as the smoothing of rough edges or around margins. Bur grit size can be identified by both their ISO number and band colour:

Super Coarse (ISO 544)

With an approximate grit size of ~180 microns, super coarse burs are colour-coded with a black double band. They are ideal for rapid bulk reduction of hard materials like zirconia or metal restorations.

Coarse (ISO 534)

These burs have a grit size of around 125–150 microns and are marked with a green band. They are commonly used for initial tooth structure removal and aggressive preparation work.

Medium or Standard (ISO 524)

With a grit size of about 100–120 microns, these burs may have no band or a blue band. They are the workhorses of restorative dentistry, suitable for general crown and veneer preparations and routine tooth reduction.

Fine (ISO 514)

Fine-grit burs have a size range of 40–60 microns and are identified by a red band. They are excellent for finishing cavity and crown preparations, especially around margins and contact points.

Extra Fine (ISO 504)

At around 30 microns, extra fine burs are colour-coded with a yellow band. These are used for polishing and smoothing margins, especially in cosmetic procedures.

Super Fine (ISO 494)

The finest available, with a grit size of ~15 microns, these burs are marked with a white band. They’re typically reserved for final enamel smoothing and achieving a high-gloss finish on restorative surfaces.

What Different Dental Burs Exist by Handpiece and Shank Design?

Burs whilst characterised by shape and material, the type of handpieces they are compatible also influences their classification. This is highly dependent on the type of shank they possess.

What Other Types of Dental Burs Are There?

Burs for Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry is considered the most common area where burs are used. Burs are primarily used for cavity preparation, removal of carious tissue, shaping dental restorations as well as finishing and polishing across composites, amalgam and glass ionomers.

• Common shapes: Round, Pear, Inverted Cone, Flame and Tapered Fissure.
• Materials: Diamond, Tungsten Carbide and Steel.

Endodontic Burs

Endodontic Burs are designed to aid with root canal access, with careful design with non-cutting tips to prevent pulp floor perforation.

• Common burs: Endo Z Bur, Peeso Reamer and Gates Glidden.
• Materials: Steel and Tungsten Carbide.

See Our Range of Endo Burs

Surgical Burs

Used in oral surgery, these burs need to be strong and durable and offer high performance. Surgical Burs undertake bone contouring, tooth sectioning and root-end surgery.

• Common Burs: Round, Crosscut Fissure and Lindemann
• Materials: Diamond and Carbide.

See Our Range of Surgical Burs

Orthodontics Burs

Orthodontic Burs can be used for interproximal reduction, de-bonding and predictable and safe resin removal, with minimal damage to tooth enamel, as well as for subsequent enamel polishing.

• Common Burs: Debonding Burs, Polishing Burs, Safe-Tipped Carbide, Diamond Strips
• Materials: Ceramic, Fine Diamond and Carbide

See Our Range of Orthodontic Burs

Laboratory Burs

Are designed to handle extraoral adjustments in dental labs or during dental denture fabrication. These are more commonly used by dental technicians, rather than chairside. Paired with bench motors or laboratory micromotors, with lower speed but higher torque, they are suitable for smoothing and contouring thermoplastics and ceramics, as well as adjusting crowns and bridges.

• Common Burs: Acrylic Trimmers, Polishing Wheels, Ball, Cylinder and Football/Egg Shaped.
• Materials: Carbide, steel, ceramic.

Looking to Buy Several Burs to Fit Your Needs?

Save money and time with our complete bur kits by Unodent:

How to Select the Right Dental Bur

To maximise efficiency in your chosen procedure, this step-by-step process will help you eliminate uncertainty, improve patient safety and ensures the best clinical outcome:

1. Define The Clinical Objective: The right bur matches the material or tissue worked on, so depending on whether you’re removing dentine, adjusting a prosthesis or endodontic access — identify what bur type would suit your procedure.
2. Match The Handpiece and Shank: If it’s a heavy-duty job, choose a friction grip (FG) bur for rapid cutting, if it’s careful and smooth precision, you’ll need latch type (RA) burs for caries excavation and polishing. If you’re working in the lab or on dentures, you’ll want a HP bur.
3. Find The Right Bur Shape: The shape of the bur greatly determines, cutting direction, control and overall finish. Select Round or Inverted Cone for access and undercuts. Use Flame or Tapered for margin finishing and try Cylinder or Wheel Burs for flat surface preparation.
4. Factor in Material: the hardness of the material you are cutting through will impact both the lifespan and the effectiveness of the bur you select. For harder materials, use a harder bur material such as Carbide of Diamond. If you’re working with a softer material, or more sensitive patient, a Ceramic or Steel bur may be more appropriate.
5. Consider ISO Length & Size: depending on your access and depth needed, a longer shank, but smaller head diameter may be necessary. Refer to the ISO code on the packaging on your bur.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a guide of how to buy dental burs, we have a handy article.

How to Maintain and Sterilise Burs

To ensure patient safety and improve longevity of these vital tools, reusable dental burs need strict maintenance. After use, please clean manually or with an ultrasonic cleaner (dependant on manufacturers indication) to remove biological debris.

Once cleansed, sterilisation will ensure all microbial life is eliminated – using an autoclave. Following this, proper drying, handling and storage will help prevent corrosion and rust buildup. Sterilisation cassettes and sealed pouches rather than bur blocks will help maintain a clean & sterile set of burs for future use.

PLEASE NOTE – We do not recommend sterilising single-use burs for reuse. This can lead to fractures of the bur head and degradation of its cutting ability, as well as increasing the risk of spreading infection. Please dispose of them once they are used.

If you would like to learn more about how to take care of your dental burs, we've written a full guide to bur maintenance and sterilisation that you can read. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s The Most Popular Bur Used In Dentistry?

According to this cross-sectional study, “75% of dentists preferred diamond burs, while only 15% chose carbide”. Other sources claim that round diamond burs are the most common and versatile – used across cavity creation in root canals, removal of carious tissue and adjusting enamel.

How Often Should Dental Burs Be Replaced?

A bur can last quite a long time but should be replaced as soon as its performance begins to degrade. Burs should cut easily, quickly, and with minimal heat build-up. Anything less than this is an unacceptable level of bur performance.

What Other Accessories Are Useful with Burs?