A dental instrument comprising a shaft and a working part adjoined thereto, with the working part having a coating in which abrasive bodies are embedded, is proposed. Firstly, the average proportion of the surface of the abrasive bodies which is covered by the coating can be at least 60%, preferably at least 65%, most preferably at least 70%. Secondly, the coating can, moreover, also consist of a nickel alloy which additionally contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, niobium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, iron and cobalt. In addition, a process for coating a working part, in particular for producing a dental instrument of this type, and also the use of such a dental instrument for cutting machining of solid bodies are proposed.