RA Burs | Latch-Type Contra-Angle

Which RA Bur Do You Need?

Find the family first, then the figure; every RA product in the collection is linked once below by its US number or head size. The three-digit size after a Busch figure is the head diameter in tenths of a millimeter.

Clinical Use

RA instruments do the slow-speed work: caries excavation with the round carbides (the 1SX cut for lower vibration, the 1SXM slim neck for deep, narrow lesions), fissure and inverted-cone preparation at low speed, finishing of composite and amalgam with the 41/44E/45/243 finishing carbides, bone trimming with the 162–269 cutters, periodontal root work with the PERIO-PRO figures, and polishing of composite, ceramic, zirconia, and metal restorations in the color-coded two-grit systems — all at the lower speeds and higher torque where tactile control matters more than cutting speed.

Care and Reconditioning

Carbide and steel RA instruments are cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized between patients in a bur block; silicone polishers and brushes follow the manufacturer's reprocessing symbols on each pack, and prophy cups are single-use. Our Dental Bur Reprocessing & Sterilization Guide covers the full workflow for Busch rotary instruments.

Compare With

Other shank collections: FG Burs (friction grip, high-speed), HP Burs (straight handpiece and laboratory), Surgical Length Burs (FG-LG and RA-L), and the 1SX and 1SXM excavation collections. For cross-brand figure numbers and terminology, see the Bur Comparison Chart and the Dental Bur Glossary.

Reference resources: Bur Comparison Chart · Speed Chart · Color Coding & ISO Guide · Glossary

FAQ

Further reading: FG vs. RA Shanks Explained: Choosing the Right Bur Shank for High-Speed and Slow