Comparative efficiency testing 330 carbide dental burs utilizing Macor substrate.

Traditionally, it has been difficult to compare the clinical performance of carbide dental burs. The purpose of this laboratory study was to investigate the comparative cutting efficiency of number 330 dental burs from six manufacturers. These burs were tested utilizing custom-built equipment consisting of a frictionless air sled to which the Macor substrate was attached. The substrate was fed to the bur at constant pressure. The efficiency of each bur, defined as the distance of the cut divided by the time taken, then was calculated. Of the six bur types tested, only one was found to be markedly superior, and four types were comparable in performance.