Nomenclature

This refers to a set of terms used in communication between persons

with the same profession that enables them to better understand one
another. The student will master these terms early in the study of
dentistry.
Since their comprehension will aid in diagnosing and treating
diseases and defects of teeth.

CARIES TERMINOLOGY

Dental caries is the pathological process which causes a defect

(cavity) in enamel or enamel and dentin (and occasionally cemented)
of a tooth.
Caries may be described in many ways.

1) According to prior condition of the tooth.

a) Primary (Initial) cavies: - is the term applied when the process
attacks a tooth a surface for the first time, regardless of
progression or Extent.
b) Secondary (recurrent) caries attacks the tooth at the margin, or
margins, of on Existing restoration, again regardless of
progression or Extent.

Fig 1-2

2) According to rate of destruction of the lesion

a) Acute caries normally involves a large number of teeth in the
mouth and the destruction of tooth structure is usually quite
rapid.

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The lesion it self normally exhibits a light color, and carious pulp
exposures may occur. Acute caries is also sometime referred to as
RAMPANT caries.

b) Chronic caries exhibits a slower progress of the lesion, and the

average lesion size is smaller than in acute aeries. The involved
tooth structure it self is usually stained a darker color and is
more leathery and firm in consistency Carious pulp exposures
are less frequent .

c) Active caries describes the lesion which progressively destroys

more tooth structure.

d) Arrested caries: as contrasted to active caries, occurs when the

active process is interrupted or ceases, it is usually character
zed by some demineralization and discoloration. Arrested
caries is most often seen on a proximal surface of a tooth after
the adjacent tooth has been extracted.

3) Caries can also be distinguished by the Extent of the lesion.

a) Incipient caries is confined to enamel, thus incipient lesion does
not require a restoration.
b) Advanced caries: has penetrated the DET and requires
restoration.

4) According to the e location of the lesion.

a) Pit and Fissure caries. Originates in. developmental
irregularities, most often on the occlusion surfaced of posterior
teeth, but al so in other pits and groove of the crowns of both on
both anterior and posteriors .

For Example: the buccal Pits of mandibular molars and lingual

pits of maxillary incisors.

b) Smooth surface caries. Occurs on the smooth surface of the

crowns of teeth. The lesion normally initiate in protected areas
which are difficult for the patient to clean. The most common
areas of involvement include the cervical third of facial and
lingual surfaces, and proximal surfaces of the teeth just
cervical to the contact area.

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c) Root (cemental) caries: normally, the anatomical root of a
tooth is not exposed to the oral environment, but in the
presence of periodontal disease the root may be exposed. This
type of caries is most often found in order patient, it is
sometimes also referred to as SENILE caries.

Fig 1-3

4) Residual caries is caries that remains in a completed tooth

preparation, whether by operator intention a by accident. Such
caries is not acceptable if at the DET or on the prepared enamel
tooth wall. It may be acceptable however, when it is affected
dentin, especially near the pulp.

 Extension For Prevention

G.V. Black noted that, in tooth preparations the operator
should Extent to include the enamel Fissures grooves and pits.
This principle was known as Extension for prevention.

 Enameloblasty : is the removal of shallow enamel

developmental Fissure a pit to create a smooth surface that
is self – cleansing or easily cleansing
 Prophylactic odontotomy: it is no longer advocated as a
preventive measure.

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 Tooth Preparation nomenclatures

A prerequisite to the comprehension of terms in either

preparation or a classification is a know ledge of all terms of
tooth descriptions of tooth surfaces.

 Cavity describes the defeat in the tooth, which is the result

of caries there fare caries is the process and cavitations is
the result of the process. If there is caries, there must be a
cavity.

Fig 1-4

 Cavity preparation. Is the result of specific operative

procedures which have removes the caries and properly
shapes the tooth to receive and retain the restorative
material.
Fig 1-5

 Restorative material is used to restore the prepared cavity.

The four main type's restorative materials to day are.
Amalgam, resins, cast gold and complete gold.

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  Restoration is the cavity preparation plus the restoration
martial. The commonly used synonym "filling" is
unprofessional.
Fig 1-6

Three systems for classifying cavities and prepared cavities are in

common used. The first classification was developed by G.V. Black
and is widely used.

G.V Black classification

Class I cavities originate in structural defects of the teeth, such as pits

and fissures. This class includes all cavities resulting from pit and
fissure caries in areas previously described.

Fig 1-7

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Class II cavities original in the proximal surfaces of premolars and
molars. The are normally the result of smooth surface caries .

Fig 1-8

Class III cavities include the proximal surfaces of anterior teeth

(incisors and canines) which do not involve the loss or removal of the
incisal angle. They are normally the result of smooth surface caries.

Fig 1-9

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Class IV cavities involve the proximal surfaces of anterior teeth
including the loss or removal of the incisal angle. This class
sometimes occurs as a result of trauma, regardless of the presence of
caries or a restoration:

Fig 1-10

Class V cavities are found in the cervical third of the facial and tooth,
with the exclusion of any:
Cavities resulting from class I pit result of smooth surface caries.

Fig 1-11

Class VI cavities are located on the incisal edges of incisors and

canines, and on the cusp tips of canines and posterior teeth.

Fig 1-12

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 Classification by complexity

1. Simple: Prepared cavities or restoration involve only one

surface.
2. Compound: Prepares cavities or restoration involve two tooth
surfaces.
3. Complex: Prepares cavities or restoration involve three, or
more tooth surfaces.

Fig 1-13

Classification by surfaces.

1. One surface: Prepared cavities or restoration take on the name

of that surface. For example, a cavity located on the occlusal
surfaces is called an occlusal and usually abbreviated to O,
while facial is simple F.

2. Tow surface: Prepared cavities or restoration take on the name

of both surfaces: The mast common prepares cavities or
restoration of two surfaces involve the occlusal and one
proximal surface, there face they are named mesio-occlusal or
disto-occlusal or abbreviates as MO or DO.

3. Three surfaces: Prepared cavities or restoration take on the

name of all involve surfaces, the mast common from involve the
occlusal and both proximal surfaces. Hence, there is a mesio-

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occlusal distal or simply MOD. If the lingual surface was
involved as well it would be as MODL.

Fig 1-14

Summarization by Example

 Ex.1: A very larger and light colored caries lesion is

present in the cervical third of the facial surface of a
mandible molar. It is classified as follows :- caries :
Primary (initial) acute smooth surface cavity,
prepared cavity and restoration:
Class V, Simple, Facial (F).

 Ex. 2: A three surface restoration involve the occlusal and

both proximal surfaces have a small carious lesion which is
dark colored, and open a long one of its margins. This
situation is classified as follows :-
Caries:
Secondly (recurrent) chronic smooth surface
cavity, Prepared cavity and restoration
Class II, Complex MOD.

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 Components of Prepared Cavities

Prepared cavities have walls , Line angles and point angles , Mast
cavity preparation are considered to have , in general , a "box" form
and these component are most easily visualizes in this from .

Tooth preparation walls.

 Internal wall: An internal wall is a prepared (cut) surface

that does not extend to the external tooth surface.

 Axial wall: An axial wall is an internal wall parallel with

the long axis of the tooth.

 Pulp pal wall: a pulp pal wall us an internal wall that is

both perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth and
occlusal of the pulp.

 External wall: An external wall is a prepared surface that

extends to the external tooth surface, and such a wall takes
the name of the tooth surface that the wall is to word.

Fig 1-15
Internal wall
External wall

 Enamel wall: The enamel wall is that portion of a

prepared external wall consisting of enamel.

 Dentinal wall: The dentinal wall us that portion of a

prepared external wall consisting of dentin in which
mechanical retention features may be located.

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  Line Angle: A line angle is the Junction of two plane
surfaces of different orientation along a line.

 Point Angle: A Point angle is the Junction of three plane

surfaces of different orientation.

 Cavosurface margin: - the Cavosurface margin is the line,

or angle formed by the Junction of a cavity wall with the
unprepared surface of the tooth.

The treatment of the Cavosurface margin is dependent on the

restorative material to be used, with amalgam the Cavosurface
margin should be a right angle, which creates a butt going between
the cavity wall and the restorative material. This condition is known
as "on bevel". Other materials require the placement of bevels if
varying length and angulations.

A dental bevel may be defined ad a plane that creates a cero surface

angle which is less than 90ْ in the restoration. Bevels for composite
cavity preparation are entirely in enamel, but very greatly in length.

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Classification of tooth Preparation and its components

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