Re-inventing the Dental Bur

Aside from changes in cutting surfaces and the invention of diamond burs, the technology in dental burs has changed very little in the history of dentistry. A round bur fits into a round chuck, and the chuck is tightened to grip the bur as securely as possible. Both parts are round, and friction is the only force holding the bur in place.

This is a widely accepted technology, but it does have its downsides. For example, if the outer surface of the bur shaft has imperfections on it, or the gripping fingers of the handpiece chuck have wear on them, they may not apply even or sufficient pressure to hold the bur securely.

Similarly, when running, the force on the bur may be more than the gripping force of the chuck, and the bur can slip while cutting. This results in an increase in heat, and a decrease in the cutting efficiency of the bur and handpiece. While proper maintenance can dramatically increase the life and efficiency of a handpiece, one company has come up with a way to avoid this scenario altogether.

ProDrive Systems of Montreal, Canada has reinvented the bur and handpiece chuck. By doing away with the round shape of the bur, and replacing it with a unique, six-sided shank, the bur is now positively located in the chuck, and cannot slip. By reengineering the handpiece turbine and chuck to mate up with this new shank shape, ProDrive has truly created a better mousetrap. Not only does this new format provide better bur retention, but it has the added benefit of providing positive engagement at two depths on the bur shank.

The practice of short-shanking a bur in a handpiece to get a bit more reach has been frowned upon by traditional handpiece manufacturers as it can damage the gripping fingers of the chuck.

Choosing to sell directly to Dentists, ProDrive has purchased a handpiece repair company that has the capability to retrofit almost any handpiece with their technology. The downside is that you now have to purchase your cutting burs directly from them, but they do have an extensive catalog of shapes and sizes to suit a wide variety of cutting needs.

You can learn more about the company and their products by visiting their website at: http://www.prodrivesystems.com