US No. 171 Bur – Busch Tapered Fissure Carbide, Made in Germany
The US No. 171 is the American number for a tapered fissure bur with a 1.2 mm head (ISO size 012): a cone that narrows toward the tip, so the walls it cuts diverge toward the occlusal: the geometry crown and inlay preparations depend on. Busch & Co. manufactures it in Germany as Busch No. 23 012 and Busch No. 23L 012. Every US No. 171 on this page is a genuine Busch instrument and ships from our US warehouse.
Busch & Co. GmbH
US No. 171 Busch Carbide Tapered Fissure (Cone) Bur | Busch No. 23 012 – FG | Pack of 6
Regular price $36.99Unit price-
Busch & Co. GmbH
US No. 171 Busch Carbide Tapered Fissure (Cone) Bur | Busch No. 23 012 – HP | Pack of 6
Regular price $36.99Unit price -
Busch & Co. GmbH
US No. 171L Busch Carbide Tapered Fissure (Cone) Long Bur | Busch No. 23L 012 – FG | Pack of 6
Regular price $40.99Unit price -
Busch & Co. GmbH
US No. 171L Busch Carbide Tapered Fissure (Cone) Long Bur | Busch No. 23L 012 – HP | Pack of 6
Regular price $40.99Unit price
Reference pages already linked from this collection, in one place.
Which US No. 171 Do You Need?
Choose by shank first, then by head length; every active product in the collection is linked once below by its Busch number.
FG (high-speed handpiece)2 items
HP (straight handpiece)2 items
FG (friction grip, 1.6 mm shank, high-speed handpiece). HP (2.35 mm shank, straight handpiece). See the Busch Bur Size Chart for head and shank dimensions.
Speed and Technique
Keep the bur parallel to the intended path of insertion so the taper of the head becomes the taper of the wall; use water spray with the FG versions and laboratory speed for HP. Maximum recommended speeds for every Busch shape are in our Dental Bur Speed Chart, and reprocessing steps in the Bur Sterilization Guide.
Made in Germany by Busch & Co.
Busch & Co. has manufactured rotary instruments in Engelskirchen, Germany since 1905. Every instrument on this page is a genuine Busch product, precision-ground on a concentric shank under ISO 13485-certified quality management and covered by our Busch warranty.
Clinical Use
- Crown preparation: axial reduction with built-in taper for full-coverage crowns and bridge abutments. The diamonds that complete the prep — taper, football, margin and flame — are in our crown preparation bur sequence.
- Inlay and onlay preparation: cavity walls that diverge toward the occlusal for a path of insertion.
- Cavity preparation: extending and shaping preparations where a flat floor and tapered walls are wanted.
- Laboratory work: the HP carbide versions cut acrylic and plaster in the straight handpiece.
At 1.2 mm the No. 171 is the standard operative size for crown and inlay walls.
The 171L (Busch 23L 012) carries a longer cutting head for deeper boxes and taller walls.
The No. 171 is plain-cut; its crosscut twin in the same shape and size is the US No. 701 (Busch 33 012). Crosscut blades cut faster and clear debris; plain-cut blades leave a smoother wall.
Care and Reconditioning
Busch carbide and steel burs are reusable: clean, disinfect and sterilize them between patients following the manufacturer instructions and replace them once they dull. Our Dental Bur Reprocessing & Sterilization Guide gives the steps for Busch rotary instruments.
Compare With
Related Busch collections: US No. 701 Bur, Tapered Fissure (Cone) Burs, Crown Preparation Burs, and Dental Lab Carbide Burs. For bur numbering and dimensions, see the Busch Bur Size Chart and the Crown Preparation and Margin Bur Guide.
Related resources: US Bur Number Finder · Bur Comparison Chart · Speed Chart · Bur Glossary · Crown Preparation Burs · Nearby sizes: US No. 169, US No. 170, US No. 172
FAQ
What is the Busch number for a US 171 bur?
Busch No. 23 012 in carbide (FG/HP). The 171L is Busch 23L 012.
What size is a No. 171 bur?
The No. 171 has a 1.2 mm head diameter (ISO size 012) on a tapered fissure bur head, ISO shape 168 (cone, flat end).
What is the difference between a No. 171 and a No. 701?
Same shape and size; one is plain-cut and the other crosscut. The No. 171 is plain-cut — crosscut cuts faster and clears debris, plain-cut leaves a smoother surface.
What do the letters after No. 171 mean?
The 171L (Busch 23L 012) carries a longer cutting head for deeper boxes and taller walls.
Are Busch No. 171 burs reusable?
Yes. Carbide and steel burs are cleaned, disinfected and sterilized between patients and replaced when they dull; the Bur Sterilization Guide gives the validated steps.
