New cavity forms in first deciduous molars which maximize dentin thickness between cavity and pulp chamber

Using a total of 60 human extracted first deciduous molars (30 upper molars and 30 lower molars), we contrived a variety of ideal cavities having dentin thicknesses below the cavity (subcavitary dentin) that measure approximately 1 mm in thickness from the pulp chamber at any point of measurement and also having a retentional groove prepared in such a way that detachment of a filling material is prevented. The transparent specimens prepared from the cavity-containing teeth were cut into serial sections of 93 microns. These sections were reconstructed using a personal computer. The thickness of dentin below the cavity was measured in randomly selected sections. Results obtained were as follows: 1. An ideal thickness of the subcavitary dentin was preserved for upper first deciduous molar by preparing a retentional groove lingually or by providing a dovetail-like shape to mesio-distolingual sides in the cavity; for lower first deciduous molar, any form of cavitation worked. 2. In the upper first deciduous molars, the margins of the cavity were displaced medially to the summits of the respective cusps 1.9 mm at the buccal side and 1.2 mm at the lingual side. In the lower first deciduous molars, the buccal margin medially measured 0.9 mm and the lingual margin measured 0.6 mm at the mesial side. At the distal side, the buccal and lingual margins measured 1.2 mm and 1.0 mm, respectively. 3. The ratio of cavity width to the distance between the summits of the buccal and lingual cusps was 1/3 in upper deciduous first molars and 2/5 in the lower first deciduous molars. 4. In the upper first deciduous molars, the depths of the buccal and lingual walls of the cavity at the center of the central groove were both 1.1 mm. In the lower first deciduous molars, the cavity formed with its center at the middle of the transverse ridge had a depth of 1.5 mm at the buccal wall and a depth of 1.7 mm at the lingual wall. The cavity formed with its center at the central fossa had a depth of 1.2 mm at the buccal wall and 1.1 mm at the lingual wall. 5. The width of the gingival wall in the proximal box measured 0.6-0.7 mm in upper and lower first deciduous molars.