Composite Finishing Burs by Busch

Which Composite Finishing Bur Do You Need?

Pick the head shape for the surface you are finishing, then the grade (standard, fine or ultra-fine) and the shank; every bur in this collection is linked once below by its Busch number.

Flame finishing carbides (48 series)

Busch No.	Pattern or size
48 009 FG	Flame, standard 12-blade, FG
48 010 FG	Flame, standard 12-blade, FG, US 242
48 012 FG	Flame, standard 12-blade, FG
48 014 FG	Flame, standard 12-blade, FG
48F 012 FG	Flame, fine, FG
48F 012 RA	Flame, fine, RA
48L 012 FG	Flame, standard 12-blade, FG
48L-UF 012 FG	Flame, ultra-fine, FG
48LF 012 FG	Flame, fine, FG

Football (egg) finishing carbides (44E series)

Busch No.	Pattern or size
44E 014 FG	Football (egg), standard 12-blade, FG, US 7404
44E 014 RA	Football (egg), standard 12-blade, RA, US 7404
44E 018 FG	Football (egg), standard 12-blade, FG, US 7406
44E 018 RA	Football (egg), standard 12-blade, RA, US 7406
44E 023 FG	Football (egg), standard 12-blade, FG, US 7408
44E 023 RA	Football (egg), standard 12-blade, RA, US 7408
44E-F 018 FG	Football (egg), fine, FG, US 8406
44E-F 018 RA	Football (egg), fine, RA, US 8406
44E-UF 018 FG	Football (egg), ultra-fine, FG, US 9406

Bud finishing carbides (46 series)

Busch No.	Pattern or size
46 009 FG	Bud, standard 12-blade, FG
46 012 FG	Bud, standard 12-blade, FG, US 7102
46 014 FG	Bud, standard 12-blade, FG, US 7104
46 018 FG	Bud, standard 12-blade, FG, US 7106
46 023 FG	Bud, standard 12-blade, FG, US 7108

Bullet finishing carbides (45 series)

Busch No.	Pattern or size
45 018 FG	Bullet, standard 12-blade, FG
45 018 RA	Bullet, standard 12-blade, RA
45F 018 FG	Bullet, fine, FG
45F 018 RA	Bullet, fine, RA
45UF 018 FG	Bullet, ultra-fine, FG

Taper (cone) pointed finishing carbides (332–335 series)

Busch No.	Pattern or size
332 008 FG	Taper (cone) pointed, standard 12-blade, FG
333 010 FG	Taper (cone) pointed, standard 12-blade, FG
334 014 FG	Taper (cone) pointed, standard 12-blade, FG
334F 014 FG	Taper (cone) pointed, fine, FG
334UF 014 FG	Taper (cone) pointed, ultra-fine, FG
335 014 FG	Taper (cone) pointed, standard 12-blade, FG
335F 014 FG	Taper (cone) pointed, fine, FG
335UF 014 FG	Taper (cone) pointed, ultra-fine, FG

Interdental finishing carbide (50 series)

Busch No.	Pattern or size
50 010 FG	Interdental, standard 12-blade, FG

Why Choose a Busch Composite Finishing Bur?

Composite finishing is where the esthetic result is won or lost. Busch finishing carbides are ground from premium German carbide with superior concentricity, so they shave composite cleanly instead of chattering across it, which is what leaves the white striations that polishers then struggle to remove. The blade-count progression is explicit in the figure number: a standard 12-blade finisher (48, 44E, 46, 45, 332–335, 50) contours quickly, the F grade takes the surface down without scratching, and the UF grade produces a pre-polish finish that lets the two-step diamond composite polishers reach a high gloss in seconds. Because Busch figures map cleanly onto US numbering (the 48 010 FG is the US 242, the 46 series are the US 7102–7108 buds, the 44E footballs are the US 7404, 7406 and 7408, with the fine 44E-F as US 8406 and the ultra-fine 44E-UF as US 9406), clinicians can switch without relearning their sequence.

Key Features

• Premium German carbide with superior concentricity for vibration-free finishing
• Three-stage blade-count progression: 12-blade contouring → F fine finishing → UF ultra-fine blending
• Flame, football (egg), bud, bullet, taper pointed and interdental head shapes
• FG friction-grip and RA latch-type shanks available across the range
• Long-lasting sharpness that protects adjacent enamel at the cavosurface margin

Suggested Composite Finishing Sequence

1. Contour – 48 010 FG flame (US 242; facial and lingual), 44E 018 FG football (US 7406; occlusal), 50 010 FG interdental (proximal). 2. Finish – 48LF 012 FG fine flame and 44E-F 018 FG fine football (US 8406). 3. Blend – 48L-UF 012 FG and 44E-UF 018 FG ultra-fine (US 9406). 4. Polish – Busch 2-step diamond composite polishers (9588 pink medium, then 9578 grey fine) and the 9677 fine composite cup.

Clinical Use

The Busch composite finishing bur range is used for contouring and finishing Class III, IV and V anterior composites, occlusal anatomy on Class I and II posterior composites, cavosurface margin blending, removal of flash and excess at the gingival margin, and refinement of proximal embrasures with the interdental 50 finisher. Use the 12-blade finishers with water spray for gross contouring, then move to the F and UF grades with light pressure and no water for the final surface before polishing. The same instruments also serve for finishing glass ionomer, compomer and provisional acrylic restorations.

Care and Reconditioning

Clean, disinfect and sterilize burs between patients and retire any bur with dull or chipped blades. Our Dental Bur Reprocessing & Sterilization Guide covers the full workflow for Busch carbide and diamond burs.

Compare With

Related Busch collections: Carbide & Diamond Finishing Burs by Busch, Egg & Football Shaped Finishing Carbide Burs, Flame Burs, 2 Step Diamond Interspersed Polishers for Composites, 2 Step Polishers for Composite, and Composite and Amalgam Removal Burs. For figure numbers and terminology, see the Bur Comparison Chart, the Dental Bur Glossary and the Dental Bur Speed Chart.

Further reading: Composite Contouring & Finishing Burs: A Busch Guide · 2 Step Diamond Interspersed Polishers for Composites · Dental Finishing Burs by Busch · US Bur Number Finder

FAQ

What is the difference between a 12-blade, F and UF composite finishing bur? Blade count controls how much material each pass removes. The standard 12-blade finishers contour composite quickly; the F (fine) grade carries more, shallower blades that smooth the surface without scratching; the UF (ultra-fine) grade produces a near-polished surface and is the last carbide step before rubber or diamond polishers.

Should I use water spray when finishing composite? Use water spray with the 12-blade contouring burs to keep the resin cool. For the F and UF finishing passes, most clinicians work dry or with a light air stream at reduced speed so they can see the surface, using light pressure to avoid heat-glazing the composite.

Which shape should I start with? The flame (figure 48 / 48L) is the most versatile shape for facial, lingual and marginal work on anterior restorations; the football (44E) fits occlusal fossae and lingual concavities; the bud (46) and bullet (45) suit premolar and cervical areas; the interdental 50 reaches proximal flash that other shapes cannot.

Can these finishing burs be used on enamel? Yes. Busch finishing carbides are designed for finishing at the composite-enamel interface and will not gouge enamel the way a diamond can; this is why the F and UF grades are preferred for cavosurface margin blending.

How do I get a high gloss after the carbide finishing burs? Follow the UF carbide with the Busch two-step diamond-interspersed composite polishers (pink medium, then grey fine) and finish with a fine composite cup or brush and diamond polishing paste.