Biomaterial Database

Mystery of the separating tungsten carbide burs. 1988

K C Lim

Three instances of tungsten carbide bur separation, one of which resulted in the patient swallowing the separated bur head are described. This spate of bur heads separating from the shank was associated with a cold sterilising solution used for disinfection.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003343	Corrosion	The gradual destruction of a metal or alloy due to oxidation or action of a chemical agent. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Corrosions
D003737	Dental Cavity Preparation	An operation in which carious material is removed from teeth and biomechanically correct forms are established in the teeth to receive and retain restorations. A constant requirement is provision for prevention of failure of the restoration through recurrence of decay or inadequate resistance to applied stresses. (Boucher's Clinical Dental Terminology, 4th ed, p239-40)	Cavity Preparation, Dental,Cavity Preparations, Dental,Dental Cavity Preparations,Preparation, Dental Cavity,Preparations, Dental Cavity
D003754	Dental High-Speed Equipment	Tools used in dentistry that operate at high rotation speeds.	High Speed Dental Equipment,Dental High Speed Equipment,Dental High-Speed Equipments,Equipment, Dental High-Speed,Equipments, Dental High-Speed,High-Speed Equipment, Dental,High-Speed Equipments, Dental
D004868	Equipment Failure	Failure of equipment to perform to standard. The failure may be due to defects or improper use.	Defects, Equipment,Device Failure,Failure, Equipment,Malfunction, Equipment,Medical Device Failure,Misuse, Equipment,Device Failure, Medical,Device Failures, Medical,Failure, Medical Device,Failures, Medical Device,Defect, Equipment,Device Failures,Equipment Defect,Equipment Defects,Equipment Failures,Equipment Malfunction,Equipment Malfunctions,Equipment Misuse,Equipment Misuses,Failure, Device,Failures, Device,Failures, Equipment,Malfunctions, Equipment,Misuses, Equipment
D005547	Foreign Bodies	Inanimate objects that become enclosed in the body.	Foreign Objects,Gossypiboma,Retained Surgical Instruments,Retained Surgical Items,Retained Surgical Needle,Retained Surgical Sponge,Retained Surgical Tools,Textiloma,Bodies, Foreign,Body, Foreign,Foreign Body,Foreign Object,Gossypibomas,Object, Foreign,Objects, Foreign,Retained Surgical Instrument,Retained Surgical Item,Retained Surgical Needles,Retained Surgical Sponges,Retained Surgical Tool,Surgical Instrument, Retained,Surgical Instruments, Retained,Surgical Item, Retained,Surgical Items, Retained,Surgical Needle, Retained,Surgical Needles, Retained,Surgical Sponge, Retained,Surgical Sponges, Retained,Surgical Tool, Retained,Surgical Tools, Retained,Textilomas
D005976	Glutaral	One of the protein CROSS-LINKING REAGENTS that is used as a disinfectant for sterilization of heat-sensitive equipment and as a laboratory reagent, especially as a fixative.	Glutaraldehyde,Cidex,Diswart,Gludesin,Glutardialdehyde,Glutarol,Korsolex,Novaruca,Sekumatic,Sonacide,Sporicidin
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013242	Sterilization	The destroying of all forms of life, especially microorganisms, by heat, chemical, or other means.
D014414	Tungsten	A metallic element with the atomic symbol W, atomic number 74, and atomic weight 183.85. It is used in many manufacturing applications, including increasing the hardness, toughness, and tensile strength of steel; manufacture of filaments for incandescent light bulbs; and in contact points for automotive and electrical apparatus.	Wolfram
D017973	Tungsten Compounds	Inorganic compounds that contain tungsten as an integral part of the molecule.	Compounds, Tungsten