The present cross sectional study was carried by the Department of Prosthodontics, crown and bridge and implantology, at GITAM Dental collage and Hospital, Visakhapatnam, India to assess the usage of rotary cutting instruments in restorative dentistry. Accordingly, a Questionnaire was prepared based on the selection of bur, it’s usage, methods of sterilization and its disposal after use. The Questionnaire’s were of closed end type and carried out four answers and the personnel participating in the study was asked to choose one answer among the four. This study was done among local general dental practioner’s in Visakhapatnam, India and the Questionnaire was posted to their respective clinics through mail. A total of 150 dentists participated in the study and out of which 131 answered the Questionnaire and returned them back. The proforma was divided in to three sections and each section had questions pertaining to that topic. The three sections were

In the selection category, a total of six questions were framed which were aimed at evaluating the criteria for choosing a dental abrasive. Questions were framed based on the availability of the dental burs in the market to the basis of their individual selection. The practioner’s were questioned whether they followed any sequentical order during tooth reduction and if so, what was the basis/ reason for it. They were also questioned about the various color coding available and what it meant to them.

In the usage criteria, a total of eight questions were framed which were aimed for evaluating the applicability of the dental drills. Questions were framed for knowing how many times the burs were used, how was the cutting efficiency, how was the handpiece behaving on usage of worn out burs, whether there was any improvement in cutting efficiency by using coolant, whether a same bur was used for removal of cast restorations or they used any special drills and also to know whether the operator was aware of the direct relation ship between the pressure application during tooth preparation and the abutment tooth being prepared.

In the sterilization category questions were framed on the various sterilization protocols available for dental burs and the operators preferred method of sterilization. How many time did they carried out the sterilization proctols and was there any improvement in the cutting efficiency of the dental drills after sterilization. Questions were also framed about truing and dressing of the dental burs.

The Questionnaire were sent to the practioner’s and were asked to choose the answer one among them. The data was collected and analyzed statistically. The most common answer was represented in terms of percentage.

A total 131 out of 150 practioner’s answered the questions, a response rate of 87%. The data was represented graphically and the frequency was represented in terms of percentage. The data is discussed as follows [Table/Fig-1,2&3]:

[Table/Fig-1]:

Selection

[Table/Fig-2]:

Usage

[Table/Fig-3]:

Sterilization and disposal

In clinical practice, diamond points are used under arduous and varying conditions. It should be borne in mind that, in addition to exacting the technical requirements involved in the use of high circumferential speeds, the methods and techniques of removal should be taken into account [7]. These, to a great extent, depend on the individual approach and skill of each dentist. The literature provides few guidelines on bur selection, and standard texts differ in their recommendations on bur selection for clinical procedures.

The present epidemiological study was initiated to serve three purposes. First, to evaluate the operators knowledge on bur selection for restorative procedures and which would enable dental educators to evaluate their recommendations relative to their peers and facilitate evidence-based clinical teaching and research. Second, a database on bur usage is necessary if laboratory-based cutting studies are to provide useful information for the dental practitioner. And the last being the mode of infection control and disposal awareness among the practitioners.

Most dentists base their clinical practice on the techniques and methodologies learned in dental school, including the need for water cooling and handpiece selection during tooth preparation procedures, the type of bur to be used. When a patient has decay (caries) in a tooth, the carious matter must be removed and the tooth then shaped, so that it can be restored to normal function. Similar considerations apply to the preparation of teeth for crowns and bridgework. These restorative procedures require the use of a dental bur held in a mechanically or air-driven handpiece. Bur selection and use are complicated by the fact that cutting efficiency or CE tends to decrease as bur wears out and as debris accumulates on the bur. Studies have shown that CE depends on both the diamond bur grit size and duration of the cutting procedure. Over short cutting periods, medium, coarse and super coarse have comparable cutting rates. More prolonged the cutting, the efficiency decreases [8]. In our survey most of the practioner’s showed a positive affinity towards the diamond burs followed by the tungsten carbide burs for tooth reduction. The color coding signifies the coarseness of the bur where green or black color is super coarse and yellow color being smoother. In our survey, the operators preferred the sequential color coding during gross tooth reduction. However, only 35% of the population showed likeness towards the super coarse. Large particles which protrude above the bonding material may penetrate deeper into the surface of the grinding substrate than fine particles. The density of the particles, i.e., the number of particles per unit area on coarse disks is lower than on fine disks. Therefore, at constant loads a greater force will be exerted on the substrate by each particle of a coarse disk, causing deeper penetration and the removal of more material than by the particles of fine disks [9].

During tooth preparation energy that was not used in cutting process is mostly transformed in to heat. The amount of heat transmitted to the tooth typically depends on the type of the bur, pressure applied, cutting time and rate, cooling techniques and speed and torque of the rotary instrument [10]. Moreover, studies have shown that various ways of improving the cutting efficiency of the diamond burs irrespective of their grit sizes, these ranging from using chemico-mechanical sprays (adding diluted alchol or glycerol) to the coolant, using more amount of coolant directed towards the bur either by single port or by multiple ports [11–13]. During grinding debris accumulates on the surface of the bur decreases the cutting efficiency, because this partially blocks the penetration of the abrasive particles into the substrate. Clogging is enhanced by increased particle density and the presence of “undercuts” on the protruding part of the particles. Coolant helps in the prevention of accumulation of debris and improves the cutting efficiency.

Studies have shown that most dentists apply pressure ranging from 50 gm to 150 gm on the tooth while using high speed handpiece [14]. In our study most of the practioner’s showed a positive affinity towards the diamond abrasives and believed that coarseness is directly related to the cutting efficiency. Clinically, dentists often press harder when resistance to cutting is encountered, typically when the handpiece speed decreases or if “dulling” of the bur is sensed. The perception is that greater pressure will compensate for these effects and maintain CE. However, differences in bur CE became apparent only when higher or lower loads than the operative “norm” are used.

Manufacturers have introduced single-patient use diamond burs as a partial solution to the dental profession’s concerns regarding infection control. Although disposable diamond burs have been marketed for years, limited information is available regarding cutting rates and durability [15]. Thus, if a diamond bur is not thoroughly cleaned of debris, or if it has been used for procedures with several patients and sterilized several times, it may not be an efficient cutting instrument. Studies have shown that with longer duration cutting efficiency decreases because of clogging of the bur. In our study, it was found that most practioner’s disposed their worn out burs into dustbins but actually these burs should have been sent back to the factory for recycling. So, thorough focus should be laid in educating the dentists to help in recycling old worn out burs.

Diseases may be transmitted by indirect contact when dental instruments contaminated by one patient are reused for another patient without adequate disinfection or sterilization between uses. The process of sterilization is designed to render instruments free of all microbial life, including bacterial spores, which can be very difficult to kill. Resterilization is simply the repeated application of a sterilization procedure to an instrument or device to remove contamination, allowing for its use in treating multiple patients. Dental burs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, all with very complex and detailed surface features. Ultrasonic cleaning can also be an effective and time-saving method of cleaning instruments, although it is not capable of removing all contamination [16]. This technique makes the debris to be removed and prevent clogging. Cold sterilization is an effective way of rendering the burs free of bacterial contamination. However, it will be wise to use single patient use bur as they not only provide an effective way of sterilization but also the cutting efficiency is good.

From the survey we came to know the operators attitude towards one group of burs in terms of cutting efficiency. However, the need of the hour is to formulate the guidelines for bur selection, use and their disposal as it not only will standardize the choice, but misuse and applicability will be reduced. In terms of cutting efficiency tungsten carbide burs have better cutting rate than diamonds. Single patient burs should be the choice of burs as they have effective cutting efficiency and strict sterilization protocols can be followed.

[Questionnaire proforma]