Cavity Preparation in Dentistry

Cavity Preparation

• Goals:
  • Remove decayed tooth structure
  • Prevent further decay
  • Prepare tooth for amalgam restoration
• Steps:
  1. Access decay: Identify and remove decayed tooth structure
  2. Outline form: Establish cavity shape and size
  3. Excavation: Remove decayed dentin and enamel
  4. Extension: Enlarge cavity to prevent recurrent decay
  5. Refine: Smooth and polish cavity walls
• Considerations:
  • Preserve healthy tooth structure
  • Avoid excessive removal of tooth tissue
  • Maintain a conservative approach

Restorative Techniques

• Direct filling technique:
  • Amalgam is placed directly into the prepared cavity
  • Condensed and carved to achieve proper shape and contours
• Indirect filling technique:
  • Amalgam is placed in a matrix or mold
  • Transferred to the prepared cavity
  • Condensed and carved to achieve proper shape and contours
• Considerations:
  • Isolation and moisture control
  • Proper amalgam manipulation and condensation

Amalgam Retention

• Mechanisms of retention:
  • Mechanical retention: Undercuts and grooves
  • Chemical retention: Adhesion to tooth structure
  • Micro-mechanical retention: Intimate contact between amalgam and tooth
• Factors influencing retention:
  • Cavity design and preparation
  • Amalgam alloy and manipulation
  • Tooth structure and morphology

Dental Anatomy

• Tooth morphology:
  • Shape and size of teeth
  • Anatomical features (e.g. grooves, fissures, and cusp tips)
• Tooth structure:
  • Enamel, dentin, and pulp
  • Hard tissue anatomy and relationships
• Considerations:
  • Tooth-specific considerations for cavity preparation and restoration
  • Preservation of healthy tooth structure

Tooth Conservation

• Principles:
  • Preserve as much healthy tooth structure as possible
  • Minimize removal of tooth tissue
  • Avoid unnecessary extension of cavity preparation
• Considerations:
  • Tooth longevity and durability
  • Patient comfort and aesthetics
  • Restoration longevity and success

Cavity Preparation

• Cavity preparation aims to remove decayed tooth structure, prevent further decay, and prepare the tooth for amalgam restoration
• It involves accessing decay, outlining the cavity shape and size, excavating decayed dentin and enamel, extending the cavity to prevent recurrent decay, and refining the cavity walls
• Healthy tooth structure should be preserved, excessive removal of tooth tissue avoided, and a conservative approach maintained

Restorative Techniques

• Direct filling technique involves placing amalgam directly into the prepared cavity, condensing and carving it to achieve the proper shape and contours
• Indirect filling technique involves placing amalgam in a matrix or mold, transferring it to the prepared cavity, and condensing and carving it to achieve the proper shape and contours
• Isolation and moisture control, as well as proper amalgam manipulation and condensation, are crucial considerations for both techniques

Amalgam Retention

• Amalgam retention is achieved through mechanical retention (undercuts and grooves), chemical retention (adhesion to tooth structure), and micro-mechanical retention (intimate contact between amalgam and tooth)
• Cavity design and preparation, amalgam alloy and manipulation, and tooth structure and morphology are factors that influence retention

Dental Anatomy

• Tooth morphology refers to the shape and size of teeth, including anatomical features like grooves, fissures, and cusp tips
• Tooth structure consists of enamel, dentin, and pulp, and involves hard tissue anatomy and relationships
• Tooth-specific considerations must be taken into account during cavity preparation and restoration to preserve healthy tooth structure

Tooth Conservation

• The principles of tooth conservation include preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible, minimizing removal of tooth tissue, and avoiding unnecessary extension of cavity preparation
• Tooth longevity and durability, patient comfort and aesthetics, and restoration longevity and success are all considerations for tooth conservation