California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

What classification would a lingual pit on tooth 8 be referred to as?

1. Class III

2. Class II

3. Class IV

4. Class I

The correct answer is: Class I

A lingual pit on tooth 8, which corresponds to the maxillary right central incisor, is classified as Class I. This classification pertains to cavities that occur in the occlusal surfaces of molars and premolars, as well as the buccal or lingual pits of any tooth. In the case of a lingual pit, it is considered a specific type of carious lesion that occurs in a localized area on the tooth’s surface, rather than affecting the interproximal surfaces or edges of anterior teeth. Class I restoration involves cavity preparation, filling, and restoration in a single surface area, which in this instance is the lingual pit on the incisal edge of a tooth. Other classifications, such as Class II, Class III, and Class IV, apply to different types of restorations involving interproximal surfaces or anterior teeth's incisal edges and corners. Class II generally deals with cavities on the proximal surfaces of posterior teeth, while Class III and Class IV refer to cavities on proximal surfaces of anterior teeth, with Class IV including an incisal edge. Since the lingual pit is a single location on a specific surface, Class I is the appropriate classification.