Shaping Dentistry for 35 Years... and Counting

They say diamonds last a lifetime. It's a fact, considering it would take about 1 billion years for a diamond to naturally turn into graphite. That said, most dentists prefer a more temporary relationship with their diamonds, and in the case of NeoDiamond, it’s more of a “one and done." That’s because they’re designed for single-patient use.

Debuting back in 1989, NeoDiamond has evolved significantly over the past 35 years—but there’s no midlife crisis in sight, with 2 new variations joining the product family in the last 2 years. One thing that hasn't changed over the years? All NeoDiamond burs are gamma-sterilized and individually wrapped in a clear poly packet.

“I have been using NeoDiamond for a long time, maybe 10 years or more,” said Ryan McNeil, DDS, who came across the burs while looking for a better price on diamonds. “For crown or onlay preps, I typically use football, round-end cylinder, or round-end taper-shaped diamonds, and occasionally a wheel bur. Most of my indirect restorations are milled in-house, so these burs let me accomplish the preparation while keeping the number of bur changes to a minimum. I think what brings me back to purchase NeoDiamond burs is that they are a cost-effective solution in a single-use bur with quality that feels as good as a multiuse diamond."

Z-Class: Designed for Zirconia

Zirconia has become a popular restorative material choice thanks to its exceptional durability and strength, but those same qualities also can make it challenging to cut, adjust, and polish. That’s the key reason why Microcopy launched its now-beloved NeoDiamond Z-Class cutters and adjusters.

With 10 shapes in total—7 adjusters and 3 cutters—these burs are created with unique zirconia-grade diamonds for a smooth cut at a consistent depth. When paired with Microcopy’s NeoShine 2-step polishers, a smooth and esthetic zirconia restoration is all but guaranteed.

“It’s a good product for reducing interferences without fear of generating fractures or excessive heat,” said Dr. Gary Dong. “It made adjustments easier, and the polisher worked better than other products I’ve used.”

X-Class: Tough as Tooth Structure

You've heard the expression “tough as nails,” but when it comes to bur selection, it’s wise to choose something that’s as tough as enamel. That’s where X-Class burs come in. An extra-coarse version of the 10 most popular NeoDiamond shapes, the 213-‡ diamonds are bonded to a cut-to-grit shank and marked with 2 blank bands for easy identification from other burs.

“I like these burs very much,” said Carl Sakamaki, DDS, after using the burs in his Denver, CO, practice. “Every bur was new and sharp, and they made the process much shorter and more efficient. Having a fresh new bur greatly reduces the time to prepare teeth for crowns, and single-use diamonds help with organization and set-up. I had several deep margins to prepare, and these burs made prepping very easy.”

NeoSpiral: Cut with a Twist

Bur clogging in the middle of a prep is one of the most frustrating scenarios in dentistry, and one that can bring any appointment to a screeching halt.

Made with spiral channels that maximize cutting efficiency by directing water flow and debris, NeoSpiral are coarse-grit diamonds in 1 football shape and 5 round-end taper shapes to meet a variety of needs.

“Similar single-use burs start to dull by the end of a crown prep procedure,” shared Dr. Carmen Nelson, “but this bur kept its sharpness throughout. In a specific case, I had to remove an old PFM and happened to use the last NeoSpiral bur I had on hand. It was the best bur I have ever used for cutting through porcelain. I think that the spiral design helped prevent excessive debris clogging.”

IPR Strips: Get Between Easier

All about the small details, interproximal reduction can be a challenge, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Available in a variety of designs and grit options, NeoDiamond IPR Strips are designed to curve easily around the tooth and feature the same high-quality diamond grit used in NeoDiamond burs. Ten stainless-steel strips are available, both solid and some perforated, with coating on one or both sides.

Appreciating the strength, thickness, and durability of NeoDiamond IPR Strips, Cynthia Young, DDS, shared, “I have used the strips for many of my clear aligner cases for IPR; they have been very effective, and I can use them over multiple teeth. I liked that the strip was very durable, and the thickness was also perfect.”