An Evaluation of Polymer Rotary Instruments’ Ability to Remove Healthy, Non-carious Dentine

Abstract - The aim of this study was to confirm that SmartprepTM burs do not cut non-carious, healthy dentine. Twenty non-carious extracted molars were trimmed with a diamond bur to remove enamel and to create a flat dentine surface. A new SmartprepTM bur (RA # 4) was applied to each tooth for 30 seconds. As a control, a new number three round stainless steel bur was applied to each tooth. The mean dentine loss was 4.25 mg (range 1.4 – 9 mg) for SmartprepTM burs and 12.21 mg (range 7.6 – 16.5mg) for stainless steel burs. The Smartprep TM burs remove significantly less dentine than stainless steel burs.

KEY WORDS: Smartprep, Polymer bur, Dental bur, Caries excavation