TOOTH PREPARATION
The mechanism alteration of a defective, injured, or diseased tooth to receive a restorative material that re-
establishes a healthy state for the tooth.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
1. Remove all defects and provide necessary protection for the pulp
2. Extend the restoration as conservatively as possible
3. Form the tooth preparation so that under the force of mastication the tooth or the restoration or both
will not fracture and the restoration will not be displaced
4. Allow for the esthetic and functional placement of a restorative material
NOMENCLATURE
A set of terms used in communication among individuals in the same profession, which enables them to
understand one another better.
CARIES TERMINOLOGY
Caries is an infectious microbiologic disease that results in localized dissolution and destruction of the calcified
tissues of teeth.
It is episodic, with alternating phases of demineralization and remineralization, and these processes may occur
simultaneously in the same lesion.
LOCATION OF CARIES
1. PRIMARY CARIES – the original caries lesion of the tooth
Three morphologic types of primary caries are evident in clinical observation:
1. lesions originating in enamel pits and fissures
2. lesions originating on enamel smooth surfaces
3. lesions originating on root surfaces
CARIES OF PIT-AND-FISSURE AND ORIGIN
Complete coalescence of the enamel development lobes results in enamel surface areas termed grooves and
fossae
Caries may develop in a groove or fossa
In areas of no masticatory action in neglected mouths
Imperfect coalescence of the developmental enamel lobes will result in enamel surface pits and fissure.
Dentin caries initially spread laterally along the DEJ and begin to penetrate the dentin toward the pulp via the
dentinal tubules
CARIES OF ENAMEL SMOOTH-SURFACE ORIGIN
Smooth-surface caries do not begin in an enamel defect but, rather, in a smooth area of the enamel surface that
is habitually unclean and is continually, or usually, covered by plaque
The caries again spreads at this junction in the same manner as in pit-and-fissure caries
The apex of the cone of caries in the enamel contacts the base of the cone of caries in the dentin
BACKWARD CARIES
Extend from the dentinoenamel junction (DEJ) into enamel
When the spread of caries along the DEJ exceeds the caries in the contiguous enamel, caries extend into this
enamel from the junction and are termed backward caries.
RESIDUAL CARIES
Caries that remains in a completed tooth preparation, whether by operator intention or by accident.
Not acceptable if it is present at the DEJ or on the prepared enamel tooth wall
Acceptable when it exists as affected dentin, especially near the pulp
The mechanism alteration of a defective, injured, or diseased tooth to receive a restorative material that re-
establishes a healthy state for the tooth.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
1. Remove all defects and provide necessary protection for the pulp
2. Extend the restoration as conservatively as possible
3. Form the tooth preparation so that under the force of mastication the tooth or the restoration or both
will not fracture and the restoration will not be displaced
4. Allow for the esthetic and functional placement of a restorative material
NOMENCLATURE
A set of terms used in communication among individuals in the same profession, which enables them to
understand one another better.
CARIES TERMINOLOGY
Caries is an infectious microbiologic disease that results in localized dissolution and destruction of the calcified
tissues of teeth.
It is episodic, with alternating phases of demineralization and remineralization, and these processes may occur
simultaneously in the same lesion.
LOCATION OF CARIES
1. PRIMARY CARIES – the original caries lesion of the tooth
Three morphologic types of primary caries are evident in clinical observation:
1. lesions originating in enamel pits and fissures
2. lesions originating on enamel smooth surfaces
3. lesions originating on root surfaces
CARIES OF PIT-AND-FISSURE AND ORIGIN
Complete coalescence of the enamel development lobes results in enamel surface areas termed grooves and
fossae
Caries may develop in a groove or fossa
In areas of no masticatory action in neglected mouths
Imperfect coalescence of the developmental enamel lobes will result in enamel surface pits and fissure.
Dentin caries initially spread laterally along the DEJ and begin to penetrate the dentin toward the pulp via the
dentinal tubules
CARIES OF ENAMEL SMOOTH-SURFACE ORIGIN
Smooth-surface caries do not begin in an enamel defect but, rather, in a smooth area of the enamel surface that
is habitually unclean and is continually, or usually, covered by plaque
The caries again spreads at this junction in the same manner as in pit-and-fissure caries
The apex of the cone of caries in the enamel contacts the base of the cone of caries in the dentin
BACKWARD CARIES
Extend from the dentinoenamel junction (DEJ) into enamel
When the spread of caries along the DEJ exceeds the caries in the contiguous enamel, caries extend into this
enamel from the junction and are termed backward caries.
RESIDUAL CARIES
Caries that remains in a completed tooth preparation, whether by operator intention or by accident.
Not acceptable if it is present at the DEJ or on the prepared enamel tooth wall
Acceptable when it exists as affected dentin, especially near the pulp
