Nomenclature In

Operative Dentistry
Guided By
Dr. Sandeep Metgud
Dr. Deepali

Presented by
Dr Ashish Chhajlani

content
Introduction
Tooth Numbering
Terminology Related to various Tooth surface
Terminology Related to Dental caries
Terminology Related to other Defect of Tooth
Nomenclature Related to cavity preparation / Tooth preparation
Classification of cavity preparations

Introduction

Nomenclature refer to a set of terms used

in communication by individuals in the
same profession that enables them to
understand one another better.

Tooth Numbering
System
The combined primary and deciduous dentition result in a total
52 teeth a clear and convenient means of identification of
specific teeth is necessary .
There are several systems which are proposed for tooth
numbering system . these are :South African system
french system
Dutch System
Bosworth System

cincinnati system
The Dane or Haderups System
Reverse numeration system
Latin numeral system
Metcalf system
Crow system
US Army System
US Navy System
LowLands system
Universal System / ADA system
Zsigmonday / Palmer notation method

The 3 popular system which are currently

popular. They are :1 Zsigmondy / Palmer system
2 American Dental Association (ADA)
system or Universal Numbering system
3 Federation Dentaire International (FDI)
System

Zsigmondy/Palmer
System
It is oldest system also called as Grid or
Angular system
In this system Primary Dentition are
denoted by English Upper case Latter and
Permanent Dentition are denoted by
Number

ADA System or
Universal System
The Primary Dentition are denoted by
consecutive english upper case latter
starting from maxillary 2nd Molar
The Permanent Teeth are indicated by
number 1 to 32 .

FDI System
it is also referred as Two Digit System.
The first digit identifies the Quadrant to which tooth
belong and second digit denotes the tooth. Both digit
have to be pronounced separately.
for Permanent Dentition Quadrant are numbered 1 to 4
and tooth are numbered 1 to 8 from the midline
for Deciduous dentition the quadrant are 5 to 8 and
teeth are denoted 1 to 5 from the midline

Terminology related to
various tooth surfaces
The coronal portion of tooth is divided into surface.
Mesial: The surface of the tooth closest to the anterior
midline.
Distal: The surface of tooth away from the anterior midline.
labial: The surface of the tooth toward the lip.
Buccal: The tooth surface that is towards the cheek
Facial: The surface of tooth towards patients face

Lingual:The tooth surface that is towards the

tongue.
Incisal:The Functional edge of an anterior tooth.
Occlusal:The masticating surface of a posterior
tooth
Cervical:The surface of the tooth close to the
neck or cervix of tooth.
Gingival:The surface of the tooth close to the
gingiva.

Terminology related to
Dental caries
Dental caries: Dental
caries is an infectious
microbiological
disease of teeth that
results in localised
dissolution of the
calcified tissue

caries can be Described according to Location, Extent and Rate.

According to Location

Primary caries : primary caries is the original carious lesion of the

tooth. Morphologically 3 types of primary caries are evident
1. Pits and fissure caries : caries involving pit and fissure area of
teeth because of imperfect coalescence of the developmental
enamel lobe
2. Smooth surface caries : caries originating on smooth surface
area of teeth that are usually covered by plaque .
3. Root surface caries / Senile caries : caries may occur on the tooth
root that has been exposed to the oral environment and habitually
covered with plaque

2.secondary
caries / Recurrent
caries: it occurs at
junction of a tooth
restoration and the
tooth and may
progress under the
restoration

According to Extent

Incipient / Reversible caries : This represents

early carious lesion which is in its initial stage.
it can be remineralised if immediate corrective
measures alter the stage.
Cavitated / Irreversible caries: in this condition
enamel surface is broken and usually lesion
has advanced into dentin. Restoration is
usually indicated.

According to Rate
Acute / Rampant caries : it refers to
disease that is rapidly damaging the tooth
.
Chronic / Arrested caries : it is slow or it
may be arrested after several active
phase.

Other terminology
related to Caries
Backward caries : when the spread of caries along DEJ
exceeds the caries in the contiguous enamel caries
extended in to this enamel from junction and is termed
Backward caries.
Forward caries : when caries cone in enamel is larger
or at least the same size as that dentin.
Residual caries : Caries that remains in a completed
tooth preparation whether by intention or accident.

Enameloplasty
it is removal of a shallow
enamel developmental
fissure or pit to create a
smooth saucer shaped
surface that is self
cleansing or easily cleaned
used when the fissure is no
deeper than one quarter to
one third the thickness of
the enamel.

Prophylactic Odontotomy

The procedure involves

minimally preparing
and filling with
amalgam ,
developmental
structural imperfection
of enamel such as pit
and fissure

Infected Dentin
Carious dentin consist of
two distinct layers an outer
and inner.
the outer layer is called as
Infected Dentin.
it is not remineralizable and
it is more discoloured so
should be removed.

Affected Dentin

The inner layer of

carious dentin is called
as Affected dentin. it
can be remineralised in
tooth so it should be
preserved

Non carious Tooth

Defects Terminology
1 Abrasion : it is abnormal
tooth surface loss resulting
from direct friction forces
between the teeth and
external object.
it is a pathological process ,
commonly seen as V shaped
notch in gingival portion of
facial aspect of tooth

2.Attrition : it is
mechanical wear of the
incisal or occlusal
surface as a result of
functional or
parafunctional
movement of mandible
(tooth tooth contact )
it is of two type
Occlusal surface
attrition and proximal
surface attrition

3.Erosion : it is loss
of the tooth
structure surface by
chemicomechanical action
without any specific
role of
microorganism

4.Abfraction: these are wedge shaped defects in

cervical regions of tooth because of heavy
eccentric occlusal force . Also termed as
idiopathic erosion

5. Fracture
This refers to any break in continuity of tooth surface as a
result of traumatic injuries. fractures are commonly 3 types
1.Incomplete fracture not directly involving vital pulp: also
called as Greenstick fracture. its a very sensitive condition
2.complete fracture not involving Vital pulp: In this condition
pain is not associated usually , restorative treatment is
indicated
3.Fracture involving Vital pulp: it results in pulpal infection and
severe pain. immediate root canal therapy is indicated
otherwise the tooth must be extracted

6.Non Hereditary Enamel hypoplasia: it occurs

when the ameloblast are injured during enamel
formation resulting in defective enamel. usually
seen in anterior and first molar
7.Amelogenesis Imperfecta: the enamel is
defective in form or calcification as a result of
heredity.
8.Dentinogenesis Imperfecta: it is a heredity
condition in which only dentin is defective due to
injury to odontoblast.

Tooth preparation Terminology

Cavity : This refers to a defect in the tooth enamel or both in enamel
and dentin due to carious progress.
Tooth (Cavity) Preparations: it is mechanical alteration of a defective
injured or diseased tooth to receive a restorative material that
reestablishes a healthy state for the tooth including aesthetic
correction where indicated and normal form and function.
Simple tooth preparation: A cavity preparation involving only one
tooth surface.
Compound tooth preparation: If two surface are involved den termed
as compound tooth preparation.
Complex tooth preparation: When preparation involves 3 or more
surfaces then it is called as complex tooth preparations.

Abbreviation

The tooth description of tooth preparation is

abbreviated by using first letter capitalised of
each tooth surface involved . for example
O: occlusal surface
MO: involving mesial and occlusal surface
MOD : involving the mesial occlusal and distal
surface etc ..

Tooth preparation walls

Internal wall: it is Prepared surface that does not
extend to the external tooth surface.
External wall: An external wall is prepared surface
that extends to the external tooth surface.
Axial wall: An axial wall is an internal wall parellel to
tooth surface
Pulpal Wall: A pulpal wall is wall perpendicular to
long axis of the tooth and occlusal of the pulp

Floor or Seat : A seat or floor is prepared wall

that is reasonably flat and perpendicular to
the occlusal force that are directed
occlusogingivally
Enamel wall:The enamel wall is that portion of
prepared external wall consisting of enamel
Dentinal wall: The Dentinal wall is that portion
of prepared wall consisting of dentin, in which
mechanical retention features may be located.

Tooth preparation angles

Here Angle refers to junction of two or more surfaces of
cavity preparation.
Line Angle : It is junction of two planar surface of
different orientation along a line. it is of two types :1. internal line angle: line angle whose apex points into
the tooth
2. external line angle: whose apex point away from the
tooth.
Point Angle : It is junction of 3 planar surfaces of
different orientation.

Cavosurface Angle and Cavosurface

Margin

The cavosurface Angle is the angle of tooth

structure formed by junction of prepared wall
and the external surface of the tooth
The actual junction is referred to as
cavosurface margin

Classification of Tooth
Preparation
classification of tooth preparation according to anatomic area and by
the associated type of treatment was presented by Black and
designated as
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
Class V
Since Blacks original classification an additional Class VI has been
added

Class I Cavity
This includes cavity preparation
involving pit and fissure area of
teeth. it involves following
area :
1 Occlusal pit and fissure in
posterior teeth
occlusal 2/3 of facial and lingual
surface of molar.
Lingual Pits of maxillary incisors

Class II Cavity

This involves one or

both Proximal surface
of posterior teeth

Class III cavity

This includes cavity
preparation on
proximal surface of
anterior teeth without
involving the incisal
angle

Class IV
This includes cavity
preparation on
proximal surface of
anterior teeth with
involvement of the
incisal angles

Class V cavity
This involves cavity preparation on the gingival 1/3
of the facial and lingual surfaces of all the teeth.

Class VI
This involves cavity preparation on incisal
edges of anterior teeth or the occlusal cusp
heights of posterior teeth

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