US No. 172 Bur – Busch Tapered Fissure Carbide, Made in Germany
The US No. 172 is the American number for a tapered fissure bur with a 1.6 mm head (ISO size 016): 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. 23 016. Every US No. 172 on this page is a genuine Busch instrument and ships from our US warehouse.
Busch & Co. GmbH
US No. 172 Busch Carbide Tapered Fissure (Cone) Bur | Busch No. 23 016 – HP | Pack of 6
Regular price $36.99Unit price
Reference pages already linked from this collection, in one place.
Which US No. 172 Do You Need?
The No. 172 in this collection is the carbide HP version, linked below by its Busch number.
HP (straight handpiece)1 items
| Busch No. | US No. | Material | Cut | Shank | Best for | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 016 | 172 | Carbide | Plain-cut | HP | Straight handpiece: laboratory and denture work | 6 |
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; run these HP burs at laboratory speed in the straight handpiece. 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
- Laboratory work: the HP carbide version cuts acrylic and plaster in the straight handpiece.
- Tapered walls in the laboratory: the cone cuts walls with a built-in taper in acrylic, wax and model materials, for example when trimming models or relieving acrylic.
At 1.6 mm the No. 172 is a wide cone for bulk reduction and laboratory cutting.
The No. 172 is plain-cut; its crosscut twin in the same shape and size is the US No. 702 (Busch 33 016). 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. 702 Bur (crosscut), US No. 171 Bur, Tapered Fissure (Cone) Burs, Crown Preparation Burs, HP Burs for the Straight Handpiece, and Dental Lab Carbide Burs. For bur numbering and dimensions, see the Busch Bur Size Chart and the Dental Bur Glossary.
Related resources: US Bur Number Finder · Bur Comparison Chart · Speed Chart · Bur Glossary · Nearby sizes: US No. 170, US No. 171
FAQ
What is the Busch number for a US 172 bur?
Busch No. 23 016 in carbide (HP).
What size is a No. 172 bur?
The No. 172 has a 1.6 mm head diameter (ISO size 016) on a tapered fissure bur head, ISO shape 168 (cone, flat end).
What is the difference between a No. 172 and a No. 702?
Same shape and size; one is plain-cut and the other crosscut. The No. 172 is plain-cut — crosscut cuts faster and clears debris, plain-cut leaves a smoother surface.
Are Busch No. 172 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.
