TOOTH NUMBERING SYSTEMS

Contents

Introduction Nomenclature Dental Formula Tooth Numbering Systems

Universal system Palmer notation FDI system

References

Introduction

Teeth are arranged in the jaws forming two dental arches :

Maxillary Arch (Upper Arch)

Mandibular Arch (Lower Arch)

Two arches together constitute the dentition

Each arch is divided by an imaginary midline into :

A right and left half called - QUADRANTS

Maxillary right/left quadrants

Mandibular right/left quadrants

Humans have two sets of teeth in their lifetime

Deciduous teeth - 20

Permanent teeth - 32

The first set of teeth to be seen in the mouth is the deciduous or primary teeth

Begins to form prenatally at about 14 weeks in utero

completed postnatally at about 3 yrs of age

First deciduous teeth begins to appear at about 6 months

the last at about 28+ or – 4 months Deciduous dentition remains intact until

the child is about 6 yrs of age

At around 6yrs the first permanent tooth begins to emerge into the mouth

this marks the beginning of the mixed dentition period

it lasts from 6 to 12 yrs of age ends when all the deciduous teeth

have been shed Then the permanent dentition period

begins

the permanent dentition is completed at about 14-15 yrs of age

Except for the third molars which are completed at 18-25 yrs of age

The completed permanent dentition consists of 32 teeth

Nomenclature and dental formula

Denomination and number of all mammalian teeth expressed by a formula called as dental formula

Each tooth represented by intial letter of its name:

Eg- Incisor – I Canine – C Premolar – P Molar – M

Each letter followed by a horizontal line and the number of each type of tooth is placed

Above the Line for Maxilla or Upper Jaw

Below the Line for Mandible or Lower Jaw

The formulae include one side only , with the number of teeth in each jaw being the same for humans

Dental Formula for Primary /Deciduous Teeth:

I 2/2 C 1/1 M2/2 = 10 This is read as : incisors, two maxillary

and two mandibular Canines, one maxillary and one

mandibular molars , two maxillary and two

mandibular. Totally 10 on one side. Right or left

Dental Formula for permanent Teeth: I 2/2 C 1/1 PM 2/2 M 3/3

This is read as : incisors, two maxillary and two

mandibular

Canines, one maxillary and one mandibular

Premolars, two maxillary and two mandibular

molars , three maxillary and three mandibular

In anthropological studies anthropologist use:

di 1, di2, dc, dm1, dm2 - deciduous dentition

I1 , I2 , C , P1 , P2 , M1 , M2 , M3 -

Permanent Dentition

tooth numbering systems

Advantages of tooth numbering systems:

Short hand system of tooth notation

Necessary for recording data

Numbering of the teeth : Starts anteriorly at midline Incisors closed to midline anteriorly are

called first or central incisor Teeth next to centrals are known as

lateral or second incisor Premolars are called as 1st & 2nd

premolars Molars are called as 1st , 2nd ,3rd molars

respectively

In all accepted forms of numbering system for teeth dental arch is expressed by a cross

Four sides of cross are used to denote four quadrants

Maxillary right

Mandibular right

Maxillary left

Mandibular left

Numbers or alphabets above horizontal line are for maxillary teeth

below line are for mandibular teeth

Three popular systems accepted for tooth identification are:

1) Universal numbering System

2) Zsigmondy’s/Palmer notation system

3) FDI (Federation Dentaire International System or International Numbering System or Two-Digit System

Universal numbering system

1st suggested by Parreidt in 1882 ADA officially accepted in 1968 Most widely accepted method used

to record teeth in U.S.A. Uncomplicated and efficient

Universal system for permanent teeth:

Each tooth numbered from 1 to 32 in consecutive order

Maxillary right third molar #1 and Maxillary left third molar tooth # 16

Mandibular left third molar tooth #17 follows consecutively to mandibular

right third molar tooth #32

Universal system for permanent teeth

Universal system For Deciduous Teeth:

Numbered from maxillary right 2nd molar to maxillary left 2nd molar and

mandibular left molar to mandibular right molar

A- maxillary right second molarJ – maxillary left second molar

K - mandibular left second molarT – mandibular right second molar

Universal system For Deciduous Teeth

Zsigmondy’s/Palmer notation system:

also known as Military Tooth numbering

system

introduced for permanent dentition by Adolf Zsigmondy of Vienna in 1861

Modified for primary dentition in 1874

1870 Palmar published Symbolic system, reffered to Palmar notation system in USA

Referred also as Zsigmondy/Palmar notation system

Right angle bracket used to

represent four quadrants of dentition

Same brackets used for Deciduous teeth

each tooth designated accordingly to its location in a quadrant

Horizontal line seperates maxilla from mandible

Vertical midline seperates right & left sides of mouth

permanent teeth numbered 1-8 in each quadrant

Deciduous teeth designated by A-E

Zsigmondy’s/Palmer notation system

FDI system

FDI (Federation Dentaire International System or International Numbering System or Two-Digit System

Given by Dane(1887) / Hderup(1891) Recommended by FDI in 1939 accepted by WHO & IADR Popular in Norway, Sweden ,Denmark ,

Finland represented by two-digit system

Each tooth represented by two-digits

First digit 1 to 4 – Quadrants - permanent

5 to 8 – Quadrants – deciduous

Second digit denotes Tooth

First number indicates quadrants (primary or pemanent)

Permanent Teeth Deciduous Teeth Max. Rt. – 1 Max. Rt.- 5 Max. Lt. - 2 Max. Lt.

- 6 Mand. Lt. – 3 Mand.

Lt. - 7 Mand. Rt. - 4 Mand.

Rt. – 8

Second digit indicates individual tooth within quadrant

Teeth within each quadrant are numbered :

1-8 ( central incisor –third molar ) – permanent tooth

1-5 (central incisor – second molar) – primary tooth

FDI system for permanent teeth

FDI system for deciduous teeth

Advantages:

Readily communicable in print

Simple to understand and adapt to chart used

Simple to translate into computer input

Simple in conversation and dictation

Safest method:Out of existing 13 systems , no system

is full –proof Safest method is to write full

description of Teeth eg:- Upper Left First Permanent Molar

References

Wheelers dental anatomy , physiology and occlusion : Nelson , Ash - 9th edition

Woelfel’s dental anatomy its relevance to dentistry: Rickne schied – 7th edition

Thank you