Dental diamond burs made with a new technology

Area of Science:

• Dental materials science
• Biomaterials engineering
• Nanotechnology in dentistry

Background:

• Conventional diamond burs suffer from inconsistent grain shapes, fabrication challenges, reduced effectiveness after sterilization, and short lifespans.
• Potential release of nickel ions (Ni+2) from metallic binders in conventional burs poses a risk of contamination in body fluids.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel diamond rotary instrument fabricated using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with a continuous diamond film.
• To compare the performance and contamination profile of the CVD diamond bur against conventional diamond burs.

Main Methods:

• Cutting performance tests were conducted on both bur types.
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to examine particle loss and surface integrity.
• Electron Microprobe Analysis (EMA) was employed to detect metallic residues on the bur surfaces and substrates.

Main Results:

• EMA confirmed the presence of Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Silicon (Si), and Iron (Fe) in conventional bur binders, with potential smearing onto substrates.
• SEM analysis revealed significant particle loss from conventional burs during cutting.
• The CVD diamond bur exhibited no discrete particle shedding and prevented metallic binder smearing.

Conclusions:

• The CVD diamond bur demonstrates enhanced cutting efficiency and extended durability.
• This new bur design effectively eliminates the risk of metal ion contamination.
• The absence of metal contamination benefits both the oral environment and ceramic material integrity during dental restoration fabrication.