Definition of Cavity Preparation: The orderly operating procedure required to remove diseased tissue and establish in a tooth the biomechanically acceptable form necessary to receive and retain a restoration.
(Boucher’s Clinical Dental Terminology): An operation in which carious material is removed from teeth and biomechanically correct forms are established in the teeth to receive and retain restorations. A constant requirement is provision for prevention of failure of the restoration through recurrence of decay or inadequate resistance to applied stresses.
The Steps in Cavity preparation after the modifications made in GV Blacks Classification:
1. Obtaining the outline form: “the form of the area of the tooth surface to be included within the outline or enamel margins of the finished cavity”
2. Obtaining the resistance form: It is that shape and placement of the cavity walls to best enable both the tooth and restoration to withstand, without fracture the stresses of Masticatory forces delivered principally along the long axis of the tooth.
3. Obtaining the retention form: Retention form is that form of cavity that best permits the restoration to resist displacement through tipping or lifting forces, especially masticatory loading.
4. Obtaining the convenience form: Convenience form is defined as that form of cavity preparation that allows adequate observation, accessibility and case of operation in preparing and restoring the cavity.
5. Removing remaining carious dentin: It is the elimination of any carious tooth structure or faulty tooth restorations left in the tooth after initial cavity preparation.
6. Pulp protection: It is the placement of materials on the surface of dentin to help in protection of the pulp from external irritants like Checmical, Physical or Thermal.
7. Secondary resistance and retention form.
8. Finishing enamel walls and margin.
9. Performing the toilet of the cavity: This is the act of freeing the preparation walls and margins from objects that may interfere with proper adaptability and behavior of the restorative material.
You can click on each Step to get the detailed description of the particular step.