The Universal Numbering System is a dental notation system for associating information to a specific tooth, and is commonly used in the United States.
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 commonly used in the United States. 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.
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
External links
- Dr. Bunn page on dental notations.