Universal

Numbering System

Universal numbering system. This is a dental

practitioner view, so tooth number 1, the rear
upper tooth on the patient's right, appears on the
left of the chart.

The Universal Numbering System also

called the "American System", is a
dental notation system for associating
information to a specific tooth[1] used
in the United States.

In the rest of the world, a different

International Standard (DIN EN) ISO
3950:2016[2] is used.

Left and right

Dental charts are normally arranged
from the viewpoint of a dental
practitioner facing a patient. The
patient's right side appears on the left
side of the chart, and the patient's left
side appears on the right side of the
chart.

The labels "right" and "left" on the

charts in this article correspond to the
patient's right and left, respectively.

Universal numbering
system
Although it is named the "universal
numbering system", it is also called the
"American system" as it is only used in
the United States.[3] The uppercase
letters A through T are used for primary
teeth and the numbers 1 - 32 are used
for permanent teeth. The tooth
designated "1" is the maxillary right
third molar ("wisdom tooth") and the
count continues along the upper teeth
to the left side. Then the count begins
at the mandibular left third molar,
designated number 17, and continues
along the bottom teeth to the right side.
Each tooth has a unique number or
letter, allowing for easier use on
keyboards.
Universal numbering system table
Permanent Dentition

upper right upper left

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17

lower right lower left

Primary Dentition

upper right upper left

A B C D E F G H I J

T S R Q P O N M L K

lower right lower left

Alternate system for Primary Dentition

upper right upper left

1d 2d 3d 4d 5d 6d 7d 8d 9d 10d

20d 19d 18d 17d 16d 15d 14d 13d 12d 11d

lower right lower left

Tooth numbering
Permanent teeth and their assigned
numbers (Universal Tooth Numbering
System)
Upper right

1. 3rd molar (wisdom tooth)

2. 2nd molar (12-yr molar)
3. 1st molar (6-yr molar)
4. 2nd bicuspid (2nd premolar)
5. 1st bicuspid (1st premolar)
6. Cuspid (canine/eye tooth)
7. Lateral incisor
8. Central incisor

Upper left

9. Central incisor
10. Lateral incisor
 11. Cuspid (canine/eye tooth)
12. 1st bicuspid (1st premolar)
13. 2nd bicuspid (2nd premolar)
14. 1st molar (6-yr molar)
15. 2nd molar (12-yr molar)
16. 3rd molar (wisdom tooth)

Lower left

17. 3rd molar (wisdom tooth)

18. 2nd molar (12-yr molar)
19. 1st molar (6-yr molar)
20. 2nd bicuspid (2nd premolar)
21. 1st bicuspid (1st premolar)
 22. Cuspid (canine/eye tooth)
23. Lateral incisor
24. Central incisor

Lower right

25. Central incisor

26. Lateral incisor
27. Cuspid (canine/eye tooth)
28. 1st bicuspid (1st premolar)
29. 2nd bicuspid (2nd premolar)
30. 1st molar (6-yr molar)
31. 2nd molar (12-yr molar)
32. 3rd molar (wisdom tooth)
See also
Dental notation
FDI World Dental Federation notation
Palmer Notation Method

References
1. "Tooth Numbering Systems" . Oral
Health Topics A–Z. American
Dental Association. Archived from
the original on November 2, 2006.
Retrieved 2014-05-26.
(www.archive.org link)
2. ISO 3950 Updated – Dentistry
Designation System
 3. "Histology: A Text and Atlas by
Michael H. Ross • Wojciech
Pawlina" .

External links
Dr. Bunn page on dental notations .
Video regarding the Universal
Numbering System

Retrieved from
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title=Universal_Numbering_System&oldid=8939
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Last edited 3 months ago by 93

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