Two Dentists, an RDH, and a Tale of Must-Haves

“Time flies” is a common refrain in dentistry, and always front and center when it comes to workflow efficiency. But during a busy day of treatment, the very essence of time tends to be in short supply. Some examples? Consider what happens when clinicians discover the burs they’re using are no longer sharp. Minutes likely race by while staff scrambles to locate sharp burs that are up to the task at hand. Then there’s the inevitable backup in the autoclaves and a sudden influx of patients who’ll have to wait until autoclaved instruments finally become available. Are you hearing the minutes ticking by?

Always Sharp, Always Sterile

Microcopy has the solution with its popular line of always sharp, always fresh and hygienic, single-patient-use dental burs—nearly all of which have garnered DPS Best Product awards. DPS checked in with dentists who've made these burs an integral part of their workflows and asked them to illustrate why they can’t practice a day without them.

“I’ve been using single-patient-use burs from this company for years, and I’ve never felt the need to change,” said Dory Stutman, DDS, who practices in Massapequa Park, NY.

Offering superior hardness and longevity, NeoDiamond burs are designed to provide a faster cut that helps reduce chair time. The presterilized and individually wrapped burs virtually eliminate cross-contamination and come in a wide selection of shapes, sizes, and grits. In fact, Dr. Stutman points to 3 NeoDiamond variations that have been his practice go-tos for years. Topping the list is a round-end taper NeoDiamond in a coarse grit. 

“This is my Swiss Army knife of burs!” he shared. “I love the shape of the bur. I use it for most crown preps and root canal access, and even to cut through old zirconia crowns that need to be removed. It’s long-lasting and cuts very efficiently.”

Dr. Stutman also lists a flame-shaped NeoDiamond in a fine grit as another go-to bur for crown preps. “This is an unusual bur because it is a fine grit, yet it cuts fast and efficiently like a coarse bur,” he said. “I can use it to complete the whole crown prep, and it leaves a very accurate and fine crown preparation.”

Speaking of crown preps, Dr. Stutman relies on a modified flat-end taper NeoDiamond in a coarse grit because its short shank allows him access to hard-to-reach areas or posterior regions where there is very little working room.

“This bur can be very helpful when doing posterior e.max crowns where treatment requires a rounded shoulder prep, as well as for patients with limited opening or a large tongue,” he shared. “On second molars, I can prepare the tooth at low speed and high torque using minimal water, which allows me to have control and prevents injury to the tongue should it push into the bur.”

A Crown & Bridge Staple

It's a sentiment shared by John Horn, DMD, who also lists the modified flat-end taper NeoDiamond as a must-have in his operatory.

“It’s in every one of my crown and bridge kits,” he said. “The efficiency of these diamonds and how quickly they remove caries and coronal tooth structure is the reason why I like them. Any diamond from Microcopy is going to perform well.”

And for Dr. Horn, the story isn’t all about diamonds. The Hegins, PA, clinician also reaches for NeoBurr NeoMax MAX 2 carbide burs. With razor-sharp edges, MAX 2 Metal Cutters easily cut through amalgam, composite, and semi precious and nonprecious metals without clogging. The bur also has a concentric design that minimizes vibration and cuts smoothly and quickly without chatter.

“I use this bur anytime I have a large, failing amalgam restoration or a failed porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown,” he shared. “The beauty of this bur is how quickly, efficiently, and quietly it eliminates the alloy or cuts through PFM. It comes in sterile, single-patient-use packaging, which is awesome for infection control and one of my favorite qualities.”