What are
G.V Blacks classification of dental
Cavities?
Cavities which are also known as tooth decay or
dental caries are permanently damaged areas in
the hard surface of your teeth that develop into
tiny openings or holes.
Caries Classification according
Caries Classification
caries involves 6 different
classifications based on the tooth
type and the cavity location or
tooth surfaces involved
-Class I: Caries located in pits or
fissures. These are located in the
occlusal surfaces of molars and
premolars, the occlusal two-thirds
of the buccal surfaces of molars,
the lingual surfaces of upper
incisors, and occasionally in the
lingual surfaces of upper molars.
-Class II: Caries located in the
proximal surfaces of molars and
premolars.
-Class III: Caries in the proximal
surfaces of canines, and incisors
not involving the incisal angles.
-Class IV: Caries in the proximal
surfaces of incisors or canines
which also involve one or both of
the incisal angles.
-Class V: Caries located in the
gingival third of the labial,
buccal, lingual, or palatal surfaces
of any tooth.
-Class VI: Caries affecting cusp
tips of molars, premolars, and
cuspids
According to the FDI World Dental Federation,
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to their Severity:
- Incipient: Lesion that extends less than
halfway through the enamel
-Moderate: Lesion that extends more than
halfway through enamel but does not involve the
dentino-enamel junction (DEJ)
-Advanced: Lesion that extends to or through
the DEJ but does not extend more than half the
distance to the pulp
-Severe: Lesion that extends through enamel,
through dentin, and more than half the distance
to the pulp.
Risk Factors:
“Dental caries is the most common chronic
disease in the world – due to exposure to sugar
and other risks – and is a major global public
health problem affecting individuals, health
systems and economies.” They also stated that
“Almost 100% of adults and 60-90% of
schoolchildren in the world have dental caries,
and that dental caries are the fourth most
expensive oral disease to treat and consumes 5–
10% of healthcare budgets in industrialized
countries.”
Symptoms:
How Do Cavities Form?
Cavities are caused by tooth decay which occurs
over time for many reasons. Tooth decay is
developed in the following ways:
-Plaque forms on the tooth: Not cleaning your
teeth well and eating a lot of sugars and starches
help contribute to dental plaque accumulation.
Plaque is a sticky film that forms on the tooth.
Bacteria loves to feed on your teeth that are full
of sugar and starches and begins to form the
plaque or also known as biofilm. Overtime if the
plaque is not removed It will harden and form
calculus which is also known as tartar which
makes removing plaque harder and also creates a
shield for the plaque. Calculus forms above the
gumline which is supragingival calculus, but it
also hides below the gumline which is called
subgingival calclus,
-Plaque Attacks: The first stage of cavities
happens when the acids in the plaque start
wearing away at the outer layer of the tooth
which is the enamel. This causes holes in the
enamel allowing more bacteria to enter inside.
-More Destruction: Once inside the tooth the
bacteria keeps causing destruction and moving
through more layers of the tooth including the
dentin and the pulp.
Treatment:
-Fillings/restorations
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-Certain foods and drinks- especially those with
high sugar content.
-Frequent snacking and sipping
-Tooth Location: Molars and premolars are most
often affected due to the anatomy of the teeth
making them harder to keep clean and harder to
reach with a toothbrush.
-Bedtime bottles: At will breastfeeding and
bottles at night can cause milk or juice to remain
on a baby’s teeth for hours causing baby bottle
tooth decay.
-Inadequate brushing
-Not getting enough fluoride
-Age-Very young children and older adults are
at higher risk of caries
-Dry mouth: Lack of saliva causes food and
liquids to sit on teeth longer without being
washed away. Some medication can cause dry
mouth also known as xerostomia.
-Worn fillings or dental devices: Plaque may be
harder to remove around worn fillings and
improperly fitted dental devices could cause
bacteria to form underneath them.
-Eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia can
lead to tooth erosion and cavities due to the
stomach acid dissolving the enamel over time.
“Black's Classification of Cavities.” Oxford Reference, www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095509657.
- Toothache, spontaneous pain or pain that -Fluoride treatments
occurs without any apparent cause
-Crowns: For extension decay or weakened teeth
-Tooth sensitivity
-Root canals: For when decay reaches the pulp
-Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking
something sweet, hot or cold, or with pressure -Tooth extractions: If the tooth is so decayed that
or air. it is no longer able to be fixed it gets removed.
-Visible holes or pits in your teeth
-Brown, black or white staining on any surface
of a tooth
-Pain when you bite down
Prevention:
-Brush with fluoride toothpaste after eating and
drinking for a minimum of twice daily
-Have regular dental check-ups and teeth
cleanings
-Rinse your mouth especially after having
sugary foods or drinks
-Consider getting dental sealants
-Drink tap water especially if yours has added
fluoride.
-Avoid frequent snacking and sipping
-Eat healthier foods that are better for your teeth
such as fruit and vegetables
-Consider fluoride treatments
Reference Page:
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“Cavity.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cavity.

“Cavities/Tooth Decay.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 19 July 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-20352892.

“Facts, Figures and Stats.” FDI World Dental Federation, 25 Apr. 2019, www.fdiworlddental.org/oral-health/ask-the-dentist/facts-figures-and-stats.

Macri, Diana, and Annie Chitlall. “Caries Classification.” Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/article/caries-classification/.

“Must-Know Classifications of Dental Caries for the National Dental Hygiene Boards.” StackPath, 14 Mar. 2016, www.dentistryiq.com/dental-hygiene/student-
hygiene/article/16352162/mustknow-classifications-of-dental-caries-for-the-national-dental-hygiene-boards.

Images that are not listed in the reference page are from:
https://choice-dental.com.au/are-dental-caries-and-cavities-the-same-thing/

https://www.npdma.com/blog/pediatric-dentist-greenfield/

http://www.holistic-healing-information.com/reversing-cavities.html

https://www.dentfirst.com/my-new-root-canal-filling/

https://www.billdorfmandds.com/dental-procedures/bonding-tooth-colored-fllings/

https://depositphotos.com/vector-images/cavity.html