Operative dentistry aje qualtrough, jd satterthwaite la morrow, pa brunton

Universal system
This system is commonly used in America. The teeth are given 
individual numbers from 1 to 32, starting with the upper right third
molar and moving clockwise round the arch to the lower right third
molar.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17
Surfaces of teeth
When describing a cavity or restoration, the location can be 
described by the surfaces of the tooth that are involved. These are 
as follows:
• Mesial: nearest to the midline of dental arch
• Distal: further from the midline of dental arch
• Labial: next to lips (anterior teeth)
• Buccal: next to cheeks (posterior teeth)
• Lingual: next to tongue (lower teeth)
• Palatal: next to palate (upper teeth)
• Incisal: cutting edge of anterior teeth
• Occlusal: chewing surface of posterior teeth
These surfaces can be represented diagrammatically as a box with five
areas, each of which represents a surface (Fig. 1.7). A series of such
boxes is used to represent all of the teeth (Fig. 1.8).
Basic principles


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DENTAL CARIES
Dental caries is a disease process resulting in the demineralisation of
dental hard tissues by microbial activity. It is a readily preventable
disease and can be arrested or reversed in its early stages. The pattern
of dental caries has changed in recent years; new lesions are more
likely to develop in pits and fissures, with smooth surface lesions
becoming less common
3
.
Aetiology
Dental caries has a multifactorial aetiology; however four principle
factors are necessary for the production of a carious lesion:
• Bacteria in dental plaque
• Substrate such as a fermentable carbohydrate (dietary sugars)
• A susceptible tooth surface
• Time