An Overview of the Dental Bur Shanks
Learn about Most Commonly Used and Specialty-Sized Dental Shanks
Dental bur shanks come in various types and sizes to fit any procedural need and mouth size. All burs consist of a head, neck, and shank. The shank is the long part of the dental bur that fits into the handpiece, and there are different types for various handpiece speeds and mouth sizes. Shanks of the Komet burs are made of stainless-steel material and have different shapes at the end to attach to different types of handpieces.
Read more about how Komet's tungsten carbide burs are made and learn about soldering - a process of brazing future tungsten carbide head of a bur on a stainless steel neck and shank.
Main Types of Dental Bur Shanks
Fiction Grip Shank (FG)
Friction Grip (FG) is the most commonly used bur shank for high-speed scenarios, suitable for prepping or finishing procedures. The standard length is 19 mm with a 1.6 mm diameter. Also included in this category are short shanks (FGSS), long surgical lengths (FGSL), and others.
Handpiece Shank (HP)
Handpiece (HP), also referred to as a Long Straight Shank: Used for low rotational speeds, typically in dental labs. The standard length is 44.5 mm with a 2.35 mm diameter. HP shanks are used for grinding or polishing ceramics and cutting sharply with tungsten carbide burs.
Right-Angle Latch Shank (RA)
Right-Angle Latch (RA): Used for low or medium speeds, suitable for contra-angle handpieces for hard-to-reach areas, often during excavating and polishing procedures. The standard length is 22 mm with a 2.35 mm diameter. RA shanks provide greater control when cutting dentin or enamel and are available in the same shape as FG.
Specialty-Sized Shanks by Komet
- Friction Grip Shorter Than Short (FGSTS): Ideal for young or elderly patients.
- Friction Grip Surgical Extra Extra Long (FGSXXL)
- Hand Piece Surgical Extra Long (HPSXL)
- Hand Piece Surgical Extra Extra Long (HPSXXL)
Applications of Shank Types
- Long Straight Shank (HP): Used in both clinics (surgical application) and laboratories.
- Latch-type/Right Angle Shank (RA): Provides greater control when cutting dentin or enamel.
- Friction Grip Shank (FG): The most commonly used burs in all dental practices. FG comes in various options: FGSS (Fiction Grip Short Shank) is better for accessing the posterior and other tight or hard-to-reach areas, especially when patients cannot open their mouths widely. FGSL is used when longer length and better visibility are required, such as in extraction and root canal procedures.
Suitability for Dental Handpieces:
- Long Straight Shanks (HP): Fit into the nose cone of the slow-speed straight handpiece.
- Latch-type/Right Angle (RA) Shanks: Fit into the latch of the contra-angle on a low-speed handpiece.
- Friction Grip (FG) Shanks: Fit into the high-speed handpieces with the chuck, lever, or push button tightening the bur into the handpiece.
Komet offers a variety of lengths for FG, HP, and RA dental shanks to accommodate any sized mouth.
| Bur Shank | Shank Description | Shank length, mm | Komet Shank Number | Shank Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FG | Fiction Grip | 19 mm | 314 | 1.60 mm |
| FGL | Fiction Grip - Long | 21 mm | 315 | 1.60 mm |
| FGSL | Fiction Grip - Surgical Length | 25 mm | 316 | 1.60 mm |
| FGSS | Fiction Grip - Short Shank | 16 mm | 313 | 1.60 mm |
| FGSTS | Fiction Grip - Shorter Than Short | 14.5 mm | 312 | 1.60 mm |
| FGSXXL | Fiction Grip - Surgical XX-Length | 34 mm | 317 | 1.60 mm |
| HP | Handpiece | 44.5 mm | 104 | 2.35 mm |
| HPSL | Handpiece - Surgical Length | 51 mm | 320 | 2.35 mm |
| HPSXL | Handpiece - Surgical X-Length | 65 mm | 105 | 2.35 mm |
| HPSXXL | Handpiece - Surgical XX-Length | 70 mm | 106 | 2.35 mm |
| RA | Right Angle | 22 mm | 204 | 2.35 mm |
| RASL | Right Angle - Surgical Length | 26 mm | 205 | 2.35 mm |
| RASXL | Right Angle - Surgical X-Length | 34 mm | 206 | 2.35 mm |
