Enamel Surface Finish and Dental Bur Wear with Chemo-mechanical Assisted Dental Cutting

Objectives: The addition of surface active agents to the handpiece coolant water has been shown to enhance dental bur cutting rates through chemomechanical effects (CMEs). The present study evaluated the effect of CMEs on the appearance of cut enamel surfaces and dental burs following cutting. Methods: Cutting was performed with a KaVo INTRAsept unit under a load of 147.5 g, a rotation speed of 160 krpm and 22 ml/min coolant flow rate using water and a 1:10 mouthwash:water mix. Medium grit diamond (856-016) and #560-016 cross-cut tungsten carbide (WC) fissure burs were used to section enamel from extracted anterior teeth. One proximal surface of each tooth was sectioned under water and the other under CME-enhancement. The separated enamel slices were harvested and examined under the SEM, thereby enabling matched pair comparisons. The burs used for tooth sectioning also were examined under SEM. Results: The mouthwash-containing coolant produced a cleaner and smoother surface than water irrigation. The mouthwash addition dramatically reduced the debris accumulation on the diamond burs while it reduced the wear of the carbide burs. Conclusions: CME-enhanced cutting of enamel through low additions of mouthwash to water is paralleled by an improved finish to the cut surface, together with reduced WC bur wear and minimal debris accumulation on diamond burs compared to water irrigation.