🔴 The Hidden Danger: Why You Should Never Partially Lock Burs in Airotors

The Hidden Danger: Why You Should Never Partially Lock Burs in Airotors

In the pursuit of better visibility—especially while working on molars—it’s not uncommon to see some dental professionals intentionally leave burs partially locked into high-speed airotor handpieces. While this might seem like a simple workaround to improve access or line of sight, it’s actually a serious clinical mistake that can lead to equipment failure, patient injury, and compromised treatment outcomes.

This blog aims to raise awareness about why burs must always be fully and securely locked into airotors, and the risks involved in deviating from this critical safety practice.

 

The Temptation: More Visibility, Less Bur

Molars can be tricky—deeply positioned, hard to access, and poorly lit. In such cases, some clinicians resort to partially inserting the bur (i.e., not pushing it all the way in or locking it fully) to shorten its working length and gain better visibility.

But this shortcut comes with high risks and zero long-term benefits.

 

The Risks of Partially Locked Burs

🔴 1. Bur Dislodgement During Use

When a bur is not fully locked, the grip of the chuck mechanism is weakened. Under high-speed rotation and pressure:

• The bur can fly out of the handpiece.
• This poses a severe injury risk to patients, especially if the bur comes loose in the oral cavity.
• It can also harm the dental assistant or operator and cause trauma.

🔴 2. Damage to Handpiece Turbine and Chuck Mechanism

The design of a turbine ensures proper balance and alignment only when the bur is fully inserted and locked. A partially locked bur:

• Unbalances the rotor system
• Causes vibration, noise, and reduced performance
• Leads to premature wear or damage of the chuck and bearings
• Can result in costly repairs or permanent turbine failure

🔴 3. Reduced Cutting Efficiency and Control

A bur that’s not fully seated may:

• Wobble during rotation, reducing precision
• Cause chatter or skipping on the tooth surface
• Increase the risk of iatrogenic damage to adjacent teeth or tissues
• Lead to incomplete or poor-quality preparations

🔴 4. Compromised Sterility and Cross-Contamination Risk

Loose or vibrating burs may create microgaps within the handpiece chuck. These gaps:

• Trap debris, fluids, and microorganisms
• Compromise sterilization and increase risk of cross-contamination between patients

 

The Right Way: Always Lock the Bur Fully

To ensure safety, efficiency, and longevity of your equipment:

✅ Always push the bur all the way in until it clicks or locks in place
✅ Double-check by gently trying to pull the bur out before starting the procedure
✅ If visibility is a concern, use:

• Better mirror positioning or lighting
• High-quality magnification tools like loupes

 

Conclusion

Improvising by partially locking burs may seem like a harmless shortcut, but it introduces serious clinical and safety risks. Proper insertion and secure locking of burs is a non-negotiable step in safe, responsible dentistry. Better alternatives exist for improving access and visibility—compromising patient safety and equipment integrity should never be one of them.

Let’s prioritize safety, precision, and professionalism—one fully locked bur at a time.