AIM: The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two different caries removal techniques in permanent molar teeth using round bur and polymer bur in terms of clinical efficacy, time taken and patient acceptance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients of age group ranging from 16–45 years with open carious lesions and dentin involvement were divided into two groups (Round bur group and Polymer bur group). Caries removal was performed, the time taken and the patient acceptance was recorded, following which the clinical efficacy for caries removal was checked using caries detector dye. RESULTS: Time taken for the caries removal procedure was more in case of polymer bur group. Patient acceptance was better with polymer bur group when compared to conventional round bur. Caries removal efficacy was similar in both the groups. CONCLUSION: Polymer bur can remove caries effectively and has a high patient acceptance, therefore, can be considered as viable alternative to painful conventional caries removal technique without the use of anesthetic agent