Interactive tooth numbering chart

Click or drag across teeth to see each tooth's name and its number in all three numbering systems — Universal (US), FDI (international), and Palmer. Built with the same odontogram engine dental clinics use in DentClosers.

UPPER JAW
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 JAW

Tip: click a tooth to select it; drag to select several. Switch the numbering system below the chart.

Selected teeth

No teeth selected yet — click any tooth on the chart above.

The three tooth numbering systems, explained

Universal Numbering System (US)

Numbers permanent teeth 1–32, starting at the upper-right third molar (1), crossing to the upper-left third molar (16), dropping to the lower-left third molar (17) and ending at the lower-right third molar (32). Primary teeth use letters A–T. This is the standard in the United States, used by the ADA and most US insurance paperwork.

FDI World Dental Federation notation (international)

Two digits: the first is the quadrant (1 = upper right, 2 = upper left, 3 = lower left, 4 = lower right for permanent teeth; 5–8 for primary), the second is the tooth's position from the midline (1 = central incisor … 8 = third molar). So tooth 11 is the upper-right central incisor and 48 the lower-right wisdom tooth. Used in most of the world and in ISO standards.

Palmer notation

The tooth's position number (1–8) inside a bracket that indicates the quadrant (⏌⏋⏊ shapes on paper). Still common in UK orthodontics and older records. Our chart shows the Palmer position with a quadrant prefix (UR/UL/LL/LR).

How quadrants work

Dentists divide the mouth into four quadrants seen from the dentist's point of view — so 'right' means the patient's right. Upper right, upper left, lower left, lower right. FDI numbers the quadrants 1–4 clockwise from the upper right; each quadrant holds 8 permanent teeth counted outward from the front-center midline.

Primary (baby) teeth

Children have 20 primary teeth. The Universal system letters them A–T; FDI gives them quadrants 5–8 with positions 1–5 (e.g., 51 is the upper-right primary central incisor, 85 the lower-right primary second molar).

UniversalFDIWhich teeth
A–J55–51 · 61–65Upper primary teeth, right to left (A = upper-right second molar, J = upper-left second molar)
K–T75–71 · 81–85Lower primary teeth, left to right (K = lower-left second molar, T = lower-right second molar)

Frequently asked questions

Which tooth numbering system does the US use?

The Universal Numbering System — permanent teeth numbered 1 to 32 starting from the upper-right third molar, and primary teeth lettered A to T. The ADA endorses it and US insurance claims use it.

What is tooth 8 and tooth 9?

In the Universal system, teeth 8 and 9 are the two upper central incisors — your top front teeth (8 upper right, 9 upper left). In FDI notation the same teeth are 11 and 21.

How do I convert between Universal and FDI numbers?

Click any tooth on the chart above — it shows the Universal, FDI, and Palmer identifiers side by side. As a rule of thumb, FDI's first digit is the quadrant and second the position from the midline, while Universal simply counts 1–32 around the mouth.

What is an odontogram?

An odontogram (also called a dental chart) is a diagram of all teeth on which dental professionals mark each tooth's condition — caries, fillings, crowns, implants, missing teeth — and planned treatments. It's the visual backbone of dental records and treatment plans.

How many teeth do adults have?

A full adult dentition has 32 permanent teeth — 8 per quadrant: two incisors, one canine, two premolars, and three molars (including the wisdom tooth). Many adults have 28 after wisdom-tooth removal.

Run a dental clinic?

This chart is a small taste of the DentClosers odontogram. In the full product, your team diagnoses on it, builds multi-option priced treatment plans from it, and sends patients a translated plan page they can accept online.

See the treatment plan builder
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