Standards Development

Scope

This document provides a system for designating the depth and extension of cavitations in human teeth intended to describe the application of new filling and restorative materials, in addition to amalgam.

This document provides a common basis for the clinical use of modern filling and restorative materials, as described in the instruction for use of the manufacturer of the restorative materials, by specifying an internationally accepted cavitation classification.

Purpose

G.V. Black came originally up with a classification and named it Black's Classification of dental caries and restorations. The classification was intended to indicate location of caries (cavities) and various methods to restore the tooth. Because at this time amalgam was the principal restorative material available this classification was a classification of cavity designs for amalgam fillings.

Today new filling and restorative materials are available which provide additional restorative possibilities.

The intention of this document is to provide a common basis for the clinical use of modern filling and restorative materials, as described in the instruction for use of the manufacturer of the restorative material, by creating an internationally accepted cavitation classification.

The classification is based on the internationally accepted Black's classification (class 1 to class 5) and introduces two additional classes.