Product Evaluation

MICROCOPY

NeoBurr NeoMax MAX 2

A single-patient-use metal cutting bur that cuts quickly and efficiently with minimal chatter, the MAX 2 retains its sharpness throughout a procedure

With hundreds of burs on the market, it can be complicated to sort through all the available options, but most dentists look for a bur that cuts quickly and efficiently, and maintains its sharpness without breaking. Like with all of their burs, Microcopy had these features in mind when designing the NeoMax MAX 1 and MAX 2 metal cutters, members of the NeoBurr family of carbide burs that are designed specifically to cut through metal and composite surfaces.

Hoping for a bur that would make it easier to remove existing restorations with thick metal substructures, Dr. Edward Lew tested the MAX 2 metal cutter for this DPS product review and discovered that “the MAX 2 cut through metal restorations with minimal effort and retained its sharpness for much longer.” Similarly, Dr. Edward Barragan “wanted a bur that would easily cut through metal without breaking, and to avoid using several burs when removing a crown.” After using this durable metal cutter, he was happy to report that the MAX 2 “cut fast and easily through the crowns.”

Cutting Performance

Featuring a friction grip shank with gold-plated finish, the MAX 2 cuts quickly and efficiently through amalgam, composite, and semi-precious and non-precious metals without clogging. Dr. John Mengelberg appreciates its fast-cutting ability and said the MAX 2 “saves time and money by cutting through metals much quicker than traditional burs.” Dr. Marc Malatesta agreed and said that “this bur seamlessly cut through metal with ease” and “made removing a metal restoration very efficient and easy.” In fact, Dr. Malatesta said his partners and associates were asking to use the burs as well.

The MAX 2 is “a good cutting bur that reduces chair time stress for my patients,” noted Dr. Laura Lam, and Dr. Leonard Tau said it “definitely fills a need when it comes to its cutting efficiency and the ability to cut through crowns quickly.” After using the MAX 2 for a few weeks, Dr. Lew reported that its “consistent cutting ability separates it from other brands,” and said it “definitely makes life easier and less frustrating when removing existing metal restorations.” Stating that the MAX 2 “made my work efficient,” Dr. Barragan concluded, “I would highly recommend this bur.”

Lack of Chatter & Durability

With a concentric design that minimizes vibration, the MAX 2 cuts quickly, smoothly, and without chatter. Dr. James Yang said the “minimal chatter and vibration” were his favorite features and that “removing metal with this bur was relatively smooth,” which “reduced chairside time and hand fatigue.” Though Dr. Susan Frank said the MAX 2 had “a little more vibration than I would like,” she said it is “still very good.” Describing a specific case, Dr. Lam said she “had a 4-unit bridge and wanted to save the abutments,” so she used the MAX 2 to “cut smoothly and save the abutments,” which “helped my patient feel more comfortable.”

With a blended neck design and single-piece construction, the MAX 2 is designed for strength and durability while maintaining its sharp edge. “It was nice to be able to utilize one bur to remove multiple restorations quickly without dulling and needing to change out burs during the procedure,” shared Dr. J. Jerald Boseman. When “removing a quadrant of older PFMs,” he said he “was able to remove the entire quadrant using 2 burs—a coarse diamond to cut through the porcelain and one MAX 2 for the metal substructure.” The MAX 2 “cut quickly through 5 crowns and was still sharp at the end of the procedure,” Dr. Boseman reported. When asked what they liked best about the product, both Dr. Larry Krevitz and Dr. Laren Garfield said they appreciated that the MAX 2 didn’t break during procedures. Dr. Mengelberg was pleased that “one bur is all you need to successfully section old crowns and bridges.”

"It cut through metal restorations with minimal effort and retained its sharpness.”
- Edward Lew, DMD

Los Angeles, CA

Single Patient Use

The MAX 2 is pre-sterilized for safety and convenience and—like all of Microcopy’s burs—is designed for single patient use, a feature that Dr. Lam appreciated. “I like that this item comes in pre-sterilized packaging and also [that it’s intended] for single use,” she said. Dr. Garfield said the single use design of the burs was his favorite feature. Calling the MAX 2 “simple to use,” Dr. Frank said she “buys a product for a specific purpose and likes when it works as I expect.” In this case, she said the MAX 2 worked better than expected and she would recommend it to colleagues. Overall Satisfaction Dr. Mengelberg concluded by stating, “NeoBurr is awesome. I have been using [Microcopy’s] diamonds for many, many years, and I am still very pleased. This NeoBurr gets my definite approval.” Dr. Boseman called the MAX 2 “overall a great bur for cutting metal” and said it “was equivalent or superior to other metal cutting burs I have used from other manufacturers.” Calling Microcopy’s NeoBurr NeoMax MAX 2 an “excellent product overall,” Dr. Tau reported that it “exceeded my expectation.”

Takeaways

• MAX 1 & MAX 2 metal cutters are designed to cut metal and composite
• Carbide blade cuts metal efficiently and quickly without clogging
• Single-piece construction for strength and durability
• Fast, smooth, chatter-free performance
•Presterilized & individually packaged for single use