Short answer: Carbide burs have sharp tungsten carbide blades (flutes) that cut. Diamond burs are coated with diamond particles that grind. Many practices stock both. To order the right one, you need three things: the shank type for your handpiece, the shape and size number, and, for diamonds, the grit.
Carbide vs. diamond at a glance
| Carbide burs | Diamond burs | |
|---|---|---|
| How it removes material | Blades cut | Diamond particles grind |
| How sizes are named | A number, e.g. #330 or #701 | Shape and size code plus grit, e.g. 856-018F |
| Grit | Not applicable | Super coarse to ultra fine |
| Our range | Round, pear, inverted cone, straight and taper fissure, amalgam prep, surgical, trimming and finishing | Round, flame, pear, football, cylinder, taper, wheel, needle and more, plus zirconia-specific diamonds |
Step 1: Match the shank to the handpiece
The shank is the part the handpiece grips. Order the wrong shank and the bur simply won't fit.
| Shank | Diameter | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| FG (friction grip) | 1.6 mm | High-speed handpieces |
| RA (right-angle latch) | 2.35 mm | Low-speed contra-angle handpieces with a latch |
| HP (straight handpiece) | 2.35 mm, long shank | Low-speed straight handpieces |
Step 2: Read the shape and size
Carbide burs are ordered by number; each number is a shape and size. Our Sabur taper fissure crosscut burs, for example, come in #699, #700, #701, #701L, #702 and #703. If you're reordering, the number on your current bur box is the fastest way to match it.
Diamond burs use a code such as 856-018F. The first part is the shape, the middle number is usually the head diameter in tenths of a millimeter (018 = 1.8 mm), and the letter at the end is the grit.
Step 3: Pick the grit (diamonds only)
Coarser grits remove material faster; finer grits leave a smoother surface. Many manufacturers mark grit with a colored ring on the shank. A common color system looks like this; always confirm against the packaging of the brand you buy.
| Grit | Common color ring |
|---|---|
| Super coarse | Black |
| Coarse | Green |
| Medium | No ring |
| Fine | Red |
| Extra fine | Yellow |
| Ultra fine | White |
Sabur diamond burs list the grit as a letter at the end of the size code (SC, C, M, F or SF).
Step 4: Single-use or reusable, and pack size
Many of the Sabur diamonds we carry are sold as disposable, single-use burs in packs of 10. Carbide burs come in packs of 10 or value packs of 100. If you go through a shape every week, the 100-pack lowers the cost per bur.
From the Curebrook team: [DRAFT: waiting on your tip. Question for you: which bur shapes and sizes do the offices you work with reorder most, and is there a mix-up you see often?]
Shop burs
- All burs and diamonds
- Sabur Carbide Burs Value Packs, 100/Pk (FG, RA and HP)
- Sabur Taper Fissure Crosscut Carbide Burs, FG
- Sabur Round End Taper Diamond Burs
- Sabur Precision Zirconia Diamond Burs
Sources
Komet USA, A Guide to Dental Instrument Color Codes: Diamonds. Clinical Research Dental, Let's talk about bur shanks. Product details from the manufacturer's listings.
