Busch & Co. · Reprocessing

Dental Bur Reprocessing & Sterilization Guide

Proper reprocessing protects your patients, your team, and your instruments.

Reusable vs. single-use: check the packaging symbols

Most Busch rotary instruments are reusable and designed to withstand practice-relevant reprocessing procedures. Some items, however, are marked single-use — look for the crossed-out "2" symbol (do not reuse) on the packaging or product documentation. Prophylaxis items and certain polishing instruments are typical examples. When an instrument is marked single-use, discard it after one patient. Per the Busch instructions, a single-use product may be reprocessed only once, before its first use, and never after use.

Crossed-out "2" do not reuse

The typical reprocessing workflow for rotary instruments

International standards for manufacturer reprocessing instructions (ISO 17664) structure the workflow into stages that will be familiar from Busch's official documentation:

1Point-of-use pre-cleaning

Remove gross debris promptly; do not let residue dry on the working part.
2Cleaning and disinfection

Clean thoroughly, for example in an ultrasonic bath or washer-disinfector, using agents suitable for rotary instruments; observe the chemical manufacturer's concentrations and contact times.
3Rinsing and drying

Rinse residues away completely and dry the instruments.
4Inspection

Check each instrument under magnification for wear, corrosion, bent shanks, or damaged working parts; damaged instruments must be discarded. A bur that no longer runs true is a clinical risk at any speed.
5Sterilization

Steam sterilization in an autoclave according to the manufacturer's validated parameters.
6Storage

Store sterilized instruments protected from recontamination, ideally in a closed, reprocessable bur block.

Busch reprocessing parameters (per the Busch IFU)

The values below are taken from the Busch reprocessing instructions (Version 07) for burs, grinding caps, polishers and mandrels. Download the Busch IFU (PDF).

Stage	Busch IFU parameters
Pre-cleaning	Within one hour after use. Soak in Alpro AlproZyme 0.5% for up to 60 minutes.
Ultrasonic cleaning (manual route)	AlproZyme 0.5% for 2 minutes at no more than 45 °C, because hotter water fixes protein. Rinse under running water for at least 1 minute before and after.
Manual disinfection	BIB forte eco 2% for 5 minutes in the ultrasonic bath, then rinse for at least 1 minute.
Machine cleaning and disinfection	Washer-disinfector to DIN EN ISO 15883-1 at 90 °C or more for at least 5 minutes (A0 ≥ 3000). The validated agent is Dr. Weigert neodisher MediClean advanced.
Steam sterilization	Pre-vacuum steam, preferably a Type B sterilizer, to DIN EN 285 or DIN EN 13060. Hold at least 132 °C for at least 3 minutes; in the STERI-SAFE WAVE, hold at least 134 °C for at least 5 minutes. Dry for at least 20 minutes.
Validated cycles	20 reprocessing cycles for instruments, 40 for STERI-SAFE WAVE and STERI-SAFE pro stands, and at most 10 for polishing tools.
Inspection	At 6x magnification or more. Check for corrosion, the condition of the cutting edges and diamond coating, and shape damage. Dispose of heavily worn or damaged instruments.
Handling	Separate grinding caps from mandrels before cleaning and disinfection, and do not reprocess non-stainless steel instruments together with stainless ones. In the STERI-SAFE pro, place detached caps on retaining pin MC300RS.

Dressing and cleaning blocks

Debris packed into a diamond or bur can often be cleared before the instrument goes back into rotation. Busch dressing and cleaning blocks, such as the white 599 block and the 441 ceramic mini block, are made to dress and clean burs and diamonds and restore their cutting efficiency. See the Dressing Stones collection. A bur that stays dull or damaged after dressing fails inspection and is discarded.

Cassettes and containers for the whole cycle

Burs rarely go through reprocessing alone. For the hand instruments that go with them, a cassette workflow loads instruments once and carries them through washer, sterilizer and storage in the same carrier. Our ZEPFcare washbaskets and cassettes come in multiple configurations, and aluminum sterilization containers provide closed transport and storage. Hand instruments that come out of inspection dull or damaged can often be restored through our sharpening and repair service.

Material matters

Different instrument materials tolerate reprocessing differently, which is why the packaging instructions are instrument-specific.

As general orientation: tungsten carbide and diamond instruments are robust across standard workflows; conventional tool-steel burs are more sensitive to corrosion from aggressive chemistry and residual moisture, so drying and agent selection matter most for them; and polishing instruments bonded with elastic carriers have their own limits — follow their specific instructions rather than assuming autoclave compatibility.

Laboratory carbide cutters, including the crosscut instruments in our Double Cut Burs: Busch Crosscut Carbide Cutter Collection, follow the same carbide guidance; clear acrylic and metal debris from the crosscut flutes before cleaning so it cannot dry in place.

STERI-SAFE: reprocessing-ready organization

Busch's STERI-SAFE bur blocks are built specifically for this workflow. The STERI-SAFE wave block holds 14 FG and 12 RA instruments, and its open design allows flow penetration for effective reprocessing even in the closed state.

It is made of disinfectable medical resin suitable for all practice-relevant reprocessing measures, is maintenance-free (no silicone knobs needed to hold instruments), and is validated by an accredited laboratory. It is resistant to disinfectants, thermo-disinfectors, and ultrasonic baths, and is autoclavable at 134°C.

A wave-design safety bracket prevents instruments from falling out, and color-coded silicone strips in five colors provide slip-free identification.

14 FGinstruments

12 RAinstruments

134°Cautoclavable

5 colorssilicone strips

Shop STERI-SAFE bur blocks→

FAQ

Can dental burs be autoclaved?

Reusable Busch rotary instruments are designed for validated reprocessing including steam sterilization; always follow the parameters in Busch's official reprocessing instructions and the symbols on the packaging. Busch specifies pre-vacuum steam at 132 °C or more for at least 3 minutes, with at least 20 minutes drying. Instruments marked single-use must not be reprocessed after use.

How many times can a bur be reused?

The Busch instructions validate 20 reprocessing cycles for instruments and at most 10 for polishing tools. Within that limit, inspect after every cycle at 6x magnification or more: discard instruments that are worn, corroded, bent, or no longer concentric. Cutting performance that has visibly degraded is itself a reason to replace.

Do polishers go in the autoclave?

Reusable Busch polishing tools are covered by the Busch reprocessing instructions, which validate them for at most 10 reprocessing cycles. Polishers marked single-use must not be reprocessed after use; check the instructions for the specific series before heat sterilization.

Can I sterilize burs in their retail packaging?

Transfer them to a reprocessable carrier such as a STERI-SAFE bur block, which is validated for reprocessing and autoclavable at 134°C, and follow the packaging instructions in Busch's official reprocessing instructions.

When should a bur be retired?

When inspection shows wear, corrosion, a damaged working part or any shank damage. A bent or scored shank no longer runs true, which is a clinical risk at any speed, so it is discarded even if the head still looks usable.

Where are the official Busch reprocessing instructions?

We host the current version directly on this page — download the PDF here — and Busch also publishes it at www.busch.eu, referenced on every Busch catalog page. Our Sterilization & Speeds library also collects Busch documentation, and our Speed Chart and Comparison Chart cover the operating side.

All Busch instruments are manufactured by Busch & Co. in Engelskirchen, Germany, an ISO 13485-certified specialist in rotary precision instruments since 1905. This guide is provided for general orientation; the manufacturer's instructions for use and your applicable local regulations govern actual reprocessing practice.