The carver is used to recreate which occlusal features?

• A. Enamel prisms and dentin tubules.
• B. Pulpal nerve endings.
• C. Cusps, grooves, and marginal ridges.
• D. Occlusal wear facets only.

Answer: (C)

Carving occlusal anatomy is the purpose of the carver. After placing restorative material, you sculpt the restoration to recreate the natural occlusal surface, including the raised cusps, the grooves that form the pits, and the marginal ridges along the edges. This shaping ensures the restoration has proper function, contact with the opposing dentition, and a natural-looking anatomy.

Enamel prisms and dentin tubules are microscopic structures within the tooth, not features you sculpt with a carver. Pulpal nerve endings reside in the pulp tissue, not on the surface you shape. Occlusal wear facets describe surfaces worn by use, not the anatomy you intentionally recreate during restoration. So the carver is used to reproduce cusps, grooves, and marginal ridges.