WILOFA DIAMANT Willi Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG, Dental Bud

The Lohmann family started diamond coating in 1961 in Fachbach on the river Lahn, in the Rhineland. What began as industrial electroplating branched out over the years into mechanical engineering, ceramic and glass processing, medical technology, jewellery and, most relevant here, dentistry. The same deposition technology that holds a diamond grain on a glass-cutting tool holds it on a bur cutting enamel.

After 65 years in business WILOFA is today one of the largest manufacturers of diamond burs in Europe.

RETARD: the multi-layer coating

More than 40 years ago WILOFA introduced RETARD, the premium version of its burs and the first multi-layer diamond bur on the market. It cuts better and lasts three times longer than a conventional bur.

On a conventional bur the diamond grains sit in a single layer: once they wear, the bur stops cutting and is discarded even though the blank is intact. RETARD deposits grains in several tiers. As the top layer wears, fresh grains beneath are exposed, the manufacturer describes the principle as "shark's teeth". The result is an instrument that keeps its edge considerably longer, with the same geometry and the same shank.

RETARD® and extended grinding capacity

In-vitro tests and over 45 years of clinical experience have shown that RETARD diamonds cut for longer than conventional instruments. It is this long-lasting cutting performance that makes RETARD cost-effective.

The diamond grain layers are fixed by electrolytically applied pure nickel. An electro-erosive process forms channels for cooling and for removing tissue during preparation.

The grit is read from the ring on the shank: black = super coarse, green = coarse, blue = medium, red = fine.

On repeated use the worn-out grain is released and a new, sharp grain takes its place. The instrument therefore does not lose its cutting effect after the first few preparations but retains it throughout its service life.

What that means chairside

Longer service life lowers the cost per preparation rather than the cost per piece.
A bur that has kept its profile cuts the margin you designed; a worn bur rounds it off.
Precision manufacturing keeps rotation free of vibration, which spares turbine and contra-angle bearings.
Grits are colour-coded by ring: blue = medium, green = coarse, red = fine, black = super coarse.