Making Occlusal Adjustments Easier

Years ago, I was introduced to a bur that I’ve found to be fantastic for occlusal adjustment. The bur I’m referring to is an 8909, also sometimes referred to as a half J bur.

It’s a small wheel diamond (fine grit) with rounded edges. This bur is excellent for adjustments, especially on molars and premolars; it also works well on anterior teeth. While it performs exceptionally on natural tooth structure, porcelain and composite, I typically prefer carbides for adjusting gold.

It’s easiest to use by implementing the rounded outer edge of the bur (as pictured here) and with a light touch, pull it across the area that needs adjustment. This allows for precise adjustments without creating sharp gouge marks, maintaining your occlusal anatomy. Once your adjustments are made, simply polish the adjusted areas with the appropriate polishers.

When first introduced to this bur, I stubbornly thought that what I was currently using worked really well and I didn’t want to mess around with something new. Well, I’ve been using this bur for sometime now and I find it increasingly useful. If you have not already tried it, don’t hesitate like I did.

John R. Carson, DDS, PC, Spear Visiting Faculty. [ www.johnrcarsondds.com ]