Cavity Classification and

Nomenclature

What is the Cavity?

Cavity is a defect in hard tooth structure.
What is cavity preparation?
It is surgical excision of the lesion in hard
tooth structure and modification in the
cavity to accept the restoration and be
retentive to this restoration and resistant to
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fracture.

.Classification of cavities
1. Anatomical classification.
2. Black's classification.
3. Numerical classification.
4. Mounts Site Stage classification.

Anatomical classification
1. Pit and fissure

2. Smooth surface

Black's classification
1. Class I: Pit and fissure any where it exists
2. Class II: Proximal of posterior teeth.
3. Class III: Proximal of anterior teeth not
involving incisal angle
4. Class IV: Proximal of anterior teeth
involving incisal angle
5. Class V: cervical area buccal and lingual in
all teeth
6. Class VI: Cusp tip and incisal edge.
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:Numerical classification
According to no. of surfaces involved
1. Simple One surface Ex. Simple class
I,II.III and V
2. CompoundTwo surfaces Ex. Compound
class I,II and III
3. ComplexMore than two surfaces Ex
complex class I,II ,III and IV
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Classification by Mount and

.Hume
Site Stage classification:
(Si/Sta)
It includes 3 sites and 5 sizes.

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:The three sites of carious lesions

Site 1: Pits, fissures and enamel defects on occlusal

surfaces of posterior teeth or other smooth
surfaces
Site 2: Proximal enamel immediately below areas in
contact with adjacent teeth

Site 3: The cervical one third of the crown or followin

gingival recession, the exposed root
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The five sizes of carious

lesions
Size 0: Lesion with no surface discontinuity may
not require surgical intervention.
Size1:Minimal involvement of dentin just
beyond treatment by remineralization
alone.
Size2: Moderate involvement of dentin.
Following cavity preparation, remaining
enamel is sound, well supported by
dentin and not likely to fail under normal
occlusal load. The remaining tooth
structure is sufficiently strong to
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support the restoration.

Size 3: the cavity is enlarged beyond moderate.

The remaining tooth structure is
weakened to the extent that cups or
incisal edges are split, or are likely to
fail or left exposed to occlusal or incisal
load. the cavity needs to be further
enlarged so that the restoration can be
designed to provide support and
protection to the remaining tooth
structure.
Size4: Extensive caries with bulk loss of tooth
structure has already occurred.
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Cavity preparation Nomenclature.

Enamel wall:
Portion of cavity wall in enamel.
Dentin wall:
Portion of cavity wall in dentin.
Dentino-Enamel Junction (DEJ)
Cemento - Enamel Junction (CEJ)
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 Cavo-suface margin:
It is the external margins of the cavity
Cavo-suface angle:
It is the angle formed between the cavity wall and
the external too surface (it is interior angle
inside tooth structure).
Isthmus:
It is the portion of the compound and complex
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cavities that joining the two portions.

Walls and Angles:

:Blacks Rules
1. Rule I: Walls named as the corresponding
tooth surface.
2. Rule II: Walls over the pulp and
perpendicular to long axis called pulpal.
3. Rule III: Walls over the pulp and parallel
to long axis called axial.
4. Rule IV: Line angle is meeting of 2
surfaces and named from the two walls
5. 19Rule V: Point angle is meeting of 3
surfaces and named from the three walls

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