Product Evaluation

PATTERSON DENTAL

Disposable Diamond Burs

A durable single-use diamond bur that maintains its cutting efficiency throughout a restorative procedure

For an artist, selecting and using the proper tools —like a paintbrush—is a key decision that can determine the success or failure of a masterpiece. For optimal efficiency and detailed results, a painter needs a variety of durable brushes that are designed for the task at hand. In dentistry—a profession that frequently combines art and science—diamond burs are a dentist’s equivalent to an artist’s paintbrush. Just like an artist cannot work without a paintbrush, a dentist cannot shape and finish a restorative masterpiece without a selection of durable diamond burs that cut, grind, and shape efficiently.

During restorative procedures, Dr. Andrew Mogelof was hoping “to find disposable diamond burs that are durable for single use that maintain cutting efficiency.” Luckily, Dr. Mogelof had the opportunity to test Patterson Dental’s disposable diamond burs for this DPS evaluation and discovered they are “excellent for single use.”

Frustrated with disposable burs that break or clog during procedures, Dr. Carmen Nelson said she sometimes purchases cheap multiuse burs and discards them after one use “because they last throughout procedures and don’t break off.” After trying the Patterson disposable diamonds, she was thrilled that “not one broke off, vibrated, or clogged” and said, “I am very excited to have good cutting ability throughout the prep.” Assuming that the Patterson disposable diamonds are more cost efficient than her current burs, Dr. Nelson said she “would quickly substitute.”

Efficiency & Speed of Substrate Removal

The single-use design and ease of use of Patterson’s diamonds allowed Dr. Craig Aebli to “prepare teeth efficiently” while “taking less time in a patient’s mouth.” Dr. Cynthia Young said the diamonds saved “my time and assistant’s time, and I didn’t have to change burs during the procedure.” Diamond burs can be used for a variety of procedures, but Dr. Marc Herman and Dr. Donald Jetter reported excellent results during crown and bridge preparations.

In one case, Dr. Lance Teramoto “had a patient that couldn’t hold her mouth open for long periods of time,” and he was able to use the “sharp-cutting diamonds to prep the teeth for crowns in as little time as possible.” While evaluating the diamonds, Dr. Elizabeth Spindel noted, “I felt these burs cut nicer than some of the multiuse burs I own.” Dr. Frank Kuzmin agreed that “the burs cut effectively throughout the procedure,” and Dr. Jetter reported, “These one-use diamond burs perform at least as well as the ones we have been using.”

Durability of Diamond

Dr. Krista Kappus started this evaluation with the goal of finding diamonds that don’t shed during treatment. She was in luck, as she discovered that “although these are disposable, I did not have any issues with balding burs before finishing treatment.” In the past, Dr. Kappus said she sometimes had “issues when trying to cut through crowns, but I did not experience this issue with the Patterson burs,”adding that the diamonds’ durability was her favorite feature. In a specific case, Dr. Kappus used a round end taper diamond to quickly remove an old zirconia crown with no balding or sparking. Dr. Young also noted that the “diamonds were strong, and I was able to cut and remove a zirconia crown using one bur.” When using the diamonds, Dr. Aebli said that they were easy to use, but Dr. Douglas O’Connor thought that the diamonds’ compatibility with air driven handpieces could be improved. 

Variations & Disposability

Patterson’s disposable diamond burs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and grits that are suitable for almost any restorative procedure. Dr. Lance Huthwaite found that “the football shaped fine diamond bur made finishing the linguals of anterior composites much faster with a smoother result.” However, Dr. Richard Gochman said one of the football diamonds was too large to use. Dr. Mogelof liked that “the burs were consistent in shape and grit and [that] they ran smoothly,” while Dr. Aebli said, “I would like to see more options for bur types and sizes.” “Because of COVID, I’m trying to use as many disposable items as possible,” shared Dr. Teramoto, who found these disposable diamonds convenient since he didn’t need to spend time sterilizing them. “We just throw them away after the procedure is done.” Dr. Huthwaite enjoyed that “it was pre-packaged for easy selection and use” but suggested a container that holds the burs and allows for one-handed disposal.

"These diamonds work very well; they are smooth-cutting and efficient.”
Lance Teramoto, DDS
Honolulu, HI

Overall Satisfaction

Patterson Dental’s disposable diamond burs are “a dependable, go-to product,” stated Dr. Huthwaite, and Dr. Herman said the diamonds “make restorative dentistry very easy and give me consistent and predictable preparations.” Dr. Kappus concluded that it was “nice to have a fresh bur at the beginning of each procedure, which helped to make the procedures quicker and more efficient.”

Takeaways

• Pre-sterilized, single-use burs for clinician convenience and patient safety
• Sharp, strong, and durable for efficient procedures
• Pre-packaged for ease of selection and use
• A wide variety of shapes, grits, and sizes for restorative procedures