Everything you need to learn tooth numbering and charting basics in one place, for dental and dental hygiene students. Use the cheat sheets, drill with the flashcards, then test yourself in the quiz.
Flashcards
Numbering systems in one minute
| Universal (US) | FDI / ISO 3950 | Palmer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult teeth | 1–32, from the upper right wisdom tooth around to the lower right wisdom tooth | Quadrant 1–4 + tooth 1–8 from the midline | Tooth 1–8 inside a quadrant bracket |
| Baby teeth | A–T, same path | Quadrant 5–8 + tooth 1–5 | A–E inside a quadrant bracket |
| Example: upper right first molar | 3 | 16 (“one-six”) | 6┘ |
| Example: lower left baby canine | M | 73 | ┌C |
Remember: charts are drawn facing the patient, so the patient’s right is on your left. Full explanation on the Learn page.
Tooth surfaces
| Surface | Abbreviation | Which side |
|---|---|---|
| Mesial | M | Toward the midline of the arch |
| Distal | D | Away from the midline |
| Occlusal | O | Chewing surface of premolars and molars |
| Incisal | I | Biting edge of incisors and canines |
| Buccal | B | Cheek side of back teeth |
| Facial / Labial | F / La | Lip side of front teeth |
| Lingual | L | Tongue side (lower teeth, and generally) |
| Palatal | P | Palate side of upper teeth |
Surfaces combine into short codes. For example, an MOD filling on #30 covers the mesial, occlusal and distal surfaces of the lower right first molar.
Key anatomy terms
- Crown: the part covered by enamel. Root: the part in the bone, covered by cementum.
- CEJ (cementoenamel junction): the line where enamel meets cementum, at the neck of the tooth.
- Cusp: a pointed or rounded peak on the chewing surface. Fossa: a hollow between cusps.
- Cingulum: the bulge on the tongue side of front teeth near the gum.
- Marginal ridge: the raised border at the mesial and distal edges of the chewing surface.
- Furcation: where the roots of a multi-rooted tooth split apart.
- Apex and apical foramen: the root tip and the opening where nerves and vessels enter.
- Pulp horn: the point of the pulp chamber that reaches up under each cusp. See them on Inside a Tooth.
Study tools on this site
Always follow your program’s own charting conventions; schools and clinics can differ in the details.