Several systems of tooth notation are available, but

the systems commonly used in the UK are the FDI

(Federation Dentaire International) and Palmer systems.

Tooth notation

The mouth is divided into four quadrants and each quadrant is given a number, starting with the upper right quadrant and working in a clockwise direction.

For example, the upper left quadrant is 2. The teeth are then allocated a number starting from the midline, so all central incisors are 1 and all third molars are 8. Therefore the lower right second premolar is 45.

Permanent teeth:

Right 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Upper

Lower 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Left

In this system, sometimes called the Tzigmondy–Palmer system, the dentition is divided into quadrants and the teeth in each quadrant are numbered 1 to 8 starting at the midline. Each quadrant is separated by a vertical line for right and left and by a horizontal line for upper and lower. Thus |6 is the upper left first molar in the permanent dentition.Permanent teeth:Right 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UpperLower 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 LeftThis system works well for hand-written notes but is more difficult for computerised notes and printed letters and therefore the lines are sometimes replaced by two letters describing the quadrant, for example UR8 is the upper right third molar tooth.

Conventionally, cavities are prepared using a combination of hand instruments and rotary instruments.

Hand instruments: (a) straight probe; (b) Briault probe;

(c) excavator; (d) ball-ended plastic;

(e) flat plastic; (f) 1/2 Hollenbach;

(g) amalgam plugger; (h) gingival

Margin trimmer; (i) hatchet;

(j) Teflon-coated composite

instrument; (k) Teflon-coated

composite instrument;

(l) Amalgam carrier.

The slow-speed handpiece is driven either by com-pressed air or directly by an electric motor. The speed of the handpiece ranges from 0 to 40 000 rpm. The mostefficient cutting is achieved with a straight handpiece,but this is difficult to use in the mouth and is thereforerestricted to extraoral use, such as adjusting temporarycrowns and dentures. The contra-angle handpiece isused for the removal of caries, polishing and finishing.

Straight handpiece

Electric motor

Contra-angled slow speed handpiece

The high-speed handpiece is driven by compressed airand is sometimes referred to as an air-turbine.It is used for cutting through enamel and dentine andremoving previous restorations. It has a speed of 250 000–500 000 rpm and, to keep it cool, a water spray is directed at the cutting part of the bur which is held in the head of the handpiece by friction. A fibreoptic light in the head of the handpiece aids visibility.

• Most often called burs, but also available are wheels, discs, rubber points, rubber cups and stones

• Each has a particular function (cutting, polishing, finishing or caries removal)

•Are made from various materials (tungsten carbide, diamond and steel)

• Can have flutes (the cutting edges)

•The end of the shank determines which handpiece the attachment will fit into:

Long straight shank – straight handpiece

Latch grip – conventional type/slow speed handpiece

Friction grip shank – air turbine handpiece/high speed handpiece

(a) latch grip stainless

steel large round; (b) latch grip stainless

steel small round; (c) latch grip superfine

diamond flame; (d) latch grip superfine

diamond football; (e) latch grip

composite finishing point; (f) latch grip

abrasive disc; (g) friction grip diamond

fissure; (h) friction grip diamond round;

(i) friction grip diamond pear; (j) friction

grip superfine diamond flame; (k) friction

grip superfine diamond tapered fissure;

(l) friction grip superfine diamond

football.

Functions and precautions

• An amalgam capsule contains amalgam material (contents will vary depending on the manufacturer)

• Care must be taken when handling amalgam to prevent inhalation of vapours, skin absorption and inhalation of air-borne particles

• Amalgamator is used to titrate amalgam prior to use

• Amalgamators must have a plastic covering over the area where the amalgam is titrated for safety in case of displacement

When the pulp suffers irreversible pulpitis, the only way to retain the natural tooth is by complete removal of the pulp.

Functions and precautions• Finger instruments• Disposed of in the sharps’ container•Used to remove the intact pulp• ‘Barbs’ on the broach snag the pulp to facilitate removal• They need to be used cautiously as they can bind and break in the canalVarietiesAvailable in different sizes and widths

Function, features and precaution• Finger instrument• Colour coded by size. The 6 colours used most often are: size 15 (white); 20 (yellow);25 (red); 30 (blue); 35 (green); 40 (black). Also available in size 6 (pink), 8 (grey) and 10 (purple)• Operator gradually increases the size of the file to smooth, shape and enlarge canal• The larger the number of the file, the larger the diameter of the working end• Disposed of in the sharps’ containerVarieties• Different lengths: 21mm, 25mm and 30mm• Hedstr m files, Flexofilesц

Lentulo spiral filler/rotary paste fillerFunction and features• Small flexible instrument used to place materials into the canal• Fits into the conventional handpiece• Use with caution as it can be easily broken• Different sizes available

Black’s classification is as follows: ■ Class I: caries affecting pits and fissures; commonly used to

refer to caries affecting the occlusal surfaces of premolars and molars.

■ Class II: caries affecting the proximal(contact) surfaces of posterior teeth(molars and premolars).

■ Class III: caries affecting the proximal surfaces of anterior teeth(incisors, canines).

■ Class IV: caries affecting the proximal surfaces of anterior teeth and also including the incisal angle(cutting edge).

■ Class V: caries affecting the cervical surfaces. In some American issues we can find the additional VI

class .Class VI – caries-resistant zones of teeth- cusps and equator of the tooth.

Class I 

Class II 

Class III 

Class IV 

Class V