What are the walls of a Class I cavity preparation?

The walls of a Class I cavity preparation are correctly identified as mesial, pulpal, distal, lingual, and facial. In a Class I cavity, which typically forms in pits and fissures, the designation of walls outlines the dimensions and direction of the cavity's preparation.

The mesial and distal walls represent the sides that face toward the adjacent teeth. The pulpal wall is the bottom surface of the cavity that is nearest to the dental pulp. The lingual wall is the surface that is closest to the tongue, and the facial wall is the surface that faces the cheek or lips. Understanding these walls is essential for EFDA practice, as it informs appropriate cavity design to ensure proper filling and structural integrity of the tooth post-restoration.