Your class V composite restoration is over contoured. Which would not be recommended to contour the anatomy properly?

In the context of contouring a Class V composite restoration, the choice of instrument is crucial for achieving the desired anatomical form without causing damage to the surrounding tooth structure or the restoration itself. Using a football bur, while it can be effective for certain applications, is generally not recommended for adjusting the anatomy of an over-contoured composite restoration.

The football bur typically has a broader shape and is designed for creating broader contours rather than fine adjustments. When contouring a Class V restoration, which is often located around the gingival area of a tooth, a more precise approach is needed. This precision helps in maintaining the integrity of the restoration and the adjacent tooth surfaces while ensuring that the contours mimic the natural anatomy of the tooth.

In comparison, instruments like sandpaper disks, flame burs, or specialized composite finishing burs such as an ET9 bur are much more suited for this task. They allow for finer control and produce a smoother finish, minimizing the risk of over-reduction and ensuring that the contours are anatomically correct. These tools are designed to work with composite material effectively, providing a smoother surface and better anatomical features that align with the natural tooth structure.

Thus, the recommendation against using a football bur in this scenario is based on the need for precision and