Dental Notation

Dentists use several methods to designate teeth. Preferences vary depending on the dentist office, dentist and country. The FDI World Dental Federation notation, the universal numbering system and the Palmer notation are the three most commonly used methods.

All three methods divide the mouth into four sections or quadrants: upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right. The designations left and right correspond with the left and right of the patient.

Separate notations are used for permanent, or secondary teeth, and deciduous teeth, also called baby teeth, primary teeth or milk teeth.

The methods use common terms when referring to teeth. Maxillary and mandibular indicate teeth in the upper half and lower half of the mouth, respectively. Anterior teeth are in the front of the mouth, and posterior teeth are in the back of the mouth.

Each tooth has a name. Central incisors are the two upper and two lower teeth in the very center of the mouth. Lateral incisors are the teeth adjacent to the centrals. Cuspids, or canines, are the pointy teeth just behind the laterals. All of these teeth are considered anterior teeth.

Posterior teeth are bicuspids and molars. First bicuspids are the teeth adjacent to the cuspids. Second bicuspids are next to the first bicuspids. First molars, or six year molars, are the teeth behind the second bicuspids. Second molars, also called 12 year molars, are the teeth adjacent to the first molars. Third molars, which are synonymous with wisdom teeth, are behind the second molars.

Palmer Notation

The Palmer notation uses a symbol to indicate which quadrant the tooth is found in and a number indicating the position of the tooth. Adult teeth are numbered one to eight, with deciduous teeth indicated by a letter A to E.

The symbols used in the Palmer notation are ┘└ ┐┌ for upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right.

FDI World Dental Federation Notation

This system is also known as ISO-3950 notation. The FDI World Dental Federation notation uses numbers one to four to designate the quadrants: upper right, upper left, lower left and lower right. Permanent teeth are numbered one to eight.

Quadrants for deciduous teeth are five to eight: upper right, upper left, lower left and lower right. Individual teeth are numbered from one to five.

Universal Numbering System

The universal numbering system is another dental notation, commonly used as an alternative to the Palmer notation. The teeth are numbered beginning with the third molar in the upper right quadrant. The numbering moves across the maxillary teeth to the left from one to 16. The mandibular teeth are numbered left to right from 17 to 32.