FDI tooth numbering system: chart with Universal and Palmer numbers

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.

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

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Every FDI tooth number, 11 to 48

Find a tooth by its FDI number: each line gives the tooth's name, where it sits, and its Universal (US) and Palmer numbers. 'Right' and 'left' are the patient's; positions count back from the midline between the two front teeth.

Upper right (FDI 11–18 · Universal 1–8)

Tooth 11 (FDI): Upper right central incisor. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the first tooth beside the midline. Universal #8 · Palmer UR1.

Tooth 12 (FDI): Upper right lateral incisor. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 2nd tooth back from the midline. Universal #7 · Palmer UR2.

Tooth 13 (FDI): Upper right canine. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 3rd tooth back from the midline. Universal #6 · Palmer UR3.

Tooth 14 (FDI): Upper right first premolar. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 4th tooth back from the midline. Universal #5 · Palmer UR4.

Tooth 15 (FDI): Upper right second premolar. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 5th tooth back from the midline. Universal #4 · Palmer UR5.

Tooth 16 (FDI): Upper right first molar. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 6th tooth back from the midline. Universal #3 · Palmer UR6.

Tooth 17 (FDI): Upper right second molar. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 7th tooth back from the midline. Universal #2 · Palmer UR7.

Tooth 18 (FDI): Upper right third molar (wisdom tooth). Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 8th and last tooth back from the midline. Universal #1 · Palmer UR8.

Upper left (FDI 21–28 · Universal 9–16)

Tooth 21 (FDI): Upper left central incisor. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the first tooth beside the midline. Universal #9 · Palmer UL1.

Tooth 22 (FDI): Upper left lateral incisor. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 2nd tooth back from the midline. Universal #10 · Palmer UL2.

Tooth 23 (FDI): Upper left canine. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 3rd tooth back from the midline. Universal #11 · Palmer UL3.

Tooth 24 (FDI): Upper left first premolar. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 4th tooth back from the midline. Universal #12 · Palmer UL4.

Tooth 25 (FDI): Upper left second premolar. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 5th tooth back from the midline. Universal #13 · Palmer UL5.

Tooth 26 (FDI): Upper left first molar. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 6th tooth back from the midline. Universal #14 · Palmer UL6.

Tooth 27 (FDI): Upper left second molar. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 7th tooth back from the midline. Universal #15 · Palmer UL7.

Tooth 28 (FDI): Upper left third molar (wisdom tooth). Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 8th and last tooth back from the midline. Universal #16 · Palmer UL8.

Lower left (FDI 31–38 · Universal 17–24)

Tooth 31 (FDI): Lower left central incisor. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the first tooth beside the midline. Universal #24 · Palmer LL1.

Tooth 32 (FDI): Lower left lateral incisor. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 2nd tooth back from the midline. Universal #23 · Palmer LL2.

Tooth 33 (FDI): Lower left canine. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 3rd tooth back from the midline. Universal #22 · Palmer LL3.

Tooth 34 (FDI): Lower left first premolar. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 4th tooth back from the midline. Universal #21 · Palmer LL4.

Tooth 35 (FDI): Lower left second premolar. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 5th tooth back from the midline. Universal #20 · Palmer LL5.

Tooth 36 (FDI): Lower left first molar. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 6th tooth back from the midline. Universal #19 · Palmer LL6.

Tooth 37 (FDI): Lower left second molar. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 7th tooth back from the midline. Universal #18 · Palmer LL7.

Tooth 38 (FDI): Lower left third molar (wisdom tooth). Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 8th and last tooth back from the midline. Universal #17 · Palmer LL8.

Lower right (FDI 41–48 · Universal 25–32)

Tooth 41 (FDI): Lower right central incisor. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the first tooth beside the midline. Universal #25 · Palmer LR1.

Tooth 42 (FDI): Lower right lateral incisor. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 2nd tooth back from the midline. Universal #26 · Palmer LR2.

Tooth 43 (FDI): Lower right canine. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 3rd tooth back from the midline. Universal #27 · Palmer LR3.

Tooth 44 (FDI): Lower right first premolar. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 4th tooth back from the midline. Universal #28 · Palmer LR4.

Tooth 45 (FDI): Lower right second premolar. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 5th tooth back from the midline. Universal #29 · Palmer LR5.

Tooth 46 (FDI): Lower right first molar. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 6th tooth back from the midline. Universal #30 · Palmer LR6.

Tooth 47 (FDI): Lower right second molar. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 7th tooth back from the midline. Universal #31 · Palmer LR7.

Tooth 48 (FDI): Lower right third molar (wisdom tooth). Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 8th and last tooth back from the midline. Universal #32 · Palmer LR8.

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) with a bracket that marks the quadrant; baby teeth use the letters A–E instead. Still common in UK orthodontics and older records. Our chart and conversion table draw the bracket — 6⌟ is the upper right first molar, ⌞6 upper left, ⌜6 lower left, 6⌝ lower right — and the per-tooth list writes the same teeth as UR6, UL6, LL6 and LR6 (baby teeth as URE, ULE and so on).

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).

Universal	FDI	Which teeth
A–J	55–51 · 61–65	Upper primary teeth, right to left (A = upper-right second molar, J = upper-left second molar)
K–T	75–71 · 81–85	Lower primary teeth, left to right (K = lower-left second molar, T = lower-right second molar)

Every FDI primary tooth number, 51 to 85

Baby teeth by FDI number: each line gives the tooth's name, where it sits, its Universal letter and its Palmer letter (A–E, counted from the midline). 'Right' and 'left' are the patient's.

Upper right (FDI 51–55 · Universal A–E)

Tooth 51 (FDI): Upper right primary central incisor. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the first tooth beside the midline. Universal E · Palmer URA.

Tooth 52 (FDI): Upper right primary lateral incisor. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 2nd tooth back from the midline. Universal D · Palmer URB.

Tooth 53 (FDI): Upper right primary canine. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 3rd tooth back from the midline. Universal C · Palmer URC.

Tooth 54 (FDI): Upper right primary first molar. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 4th tooth back from the midline. Universal B · Palmer URD.

Tooth 55 (FDI): Upper right primary second molar. Upper jaw, patient's right side, the 5th and last baby tooth back from the midline. Universal A · Palmer URE.

Upper left (FDI 61–65 · Universal F–J)

Tooth 61 (FDI): Upper left primary central incisor. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the first tooth beside the midline. Universal F · Palmer ULA.

Tooth 62 (FDI): Upper left primary lateral incisor. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 2nd tooth back from the midline. Universal G · Palmer ULB.

Tooth 63 (FDI): Upper left primary canine. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 3rd tooth back from the midline. Universal H · Palmer ULC.

Tooth 64 (FDI): Upper left primary first molar. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 4th tooth back from the midline. Universal I · Palmer ULD.

Tooth 65 (FDI): Upper left primary second molar. Upper jaw, patient's left side, the 5th and last baby tooth back from the midline. Universal J · Palmer ULE.

Lower left (FDI 71–75 · Universal K–O)

Tooth 71 (FDI): Lower left primary central incisor. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the first tooth beside the midline. Universal O · Palmer LLA.

Tooth 72 (FDI): Lower left primary lateral incisor. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 2nd tooth back from the midline. Universal N · Palmer LLB.

Tooth 73 (FDI): Lower left primary canine. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 3rd tooth back from the midline. Universal M · Palmer LLC.

Tooth 74 (FDI): Lower left primary first molar. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 4th tooth back from the midline. Universal L · Palmer LLD.

Tooth 75 (FDI): Lower left primary second molar. Lower jaw, patient's left side, the 5th and last baby tooth back from the midline. Universal K · Palmer LLE.

Lower right (FDI 81–85 · Universal P–T)

Tooth 81 (FDI): Lower right primary central incisor. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the first tooth beside the midline. Universal P · Palmer LRA.

Tooth 82 (FDI): Lower right primary lateral incisor. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 2nd tooth back from the midline. Universal Q · Palmer LRB.

Tooth 83 (FDI): Lower right primary canine. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 3rd tooth back from the midline. Universal R · Palmer LRC.

Tooth 84 (FDI): Lower right primary first molar. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 4th tooth back from the midline. Universal S · Palmer LRD.

Tooth 85 (FDI): Lower right primary second molar. Lower jaw, patient's right side, the 5th and last baby tooth back from the midline. Universal T · Palmer LRE.

FDI, Universal and Palmer conversion table (permanent teeth)

All 32 permanent teeth with their number in each system. FDI and Palmer count from the midline in each quadrant; Universal counts 1 to 32 around the mouth, starting at the upper-right third molar.

FDI	Universal	Palmer	Tooth
11	8	1⌟	Upper right central incisor
12	7	2⌟	Upper right lateral incisor
13	6	3⌟	Upper right canine
14	5	4⌟	Upper right first premolar
15	4	5⌟	Upper right second premolar
16	3	6⌟	Upper right first molar
17	2	7⌟	Upper right second molar
18	1	8⌟	Upper right third molar (wisdom tooth)
21	9	⌞1	Upper left central incisor
22	10	⌞2	Upper left lateral incisor
23	11	⌞3	Upper left canine
24	12	⌞4	Upper left first premolar
25	13	⌞5	Upper left second premolar
26	14	⌞6	Upper left first molar
27	15	⌞7	Upper left second molar
28	16	⌞8	Upper left third molar (wisdom tooth)
31	24	⌜1	Lower left central incisor
32	23	⌜2	Lower left lateral incisor
33	22	⌜3	Lower left canine
34	21	⌜4	Lower left first premolar
35	20	⌜5	Lower left second premolar
36	19	⌜6	Lower left first molar
37	18	⌜7	Lower left second molar
38	17	⌜8	Lower left third molar (wisdom tooth)
41	25	1⌝	Lower right central incisor
42	26	2⌝	Lower right lateral incisor
43	27	3⌝	Lower right canine
44	28	4⌝	Lower right first premolar
45	29	5⌝	Lower right second premolar
46	30	6⌝	Lower right first molar
47	31	7⌝	Lower right second molar
48	32	8⌝	Lower right third molar (wisdom tooth)

Frequently asked questions

What is the FDI tooth numbering system?

The FDI World Dental Federation system (ISO 3950) gives every tooth two digits. The first is the quadrant: 1 upper right, 2 upper left, 3 lower left, 4 lower right for permanent teeth, and 5–8 for primary teeth. The second is the tooth's position counted back from the midline, 1 (central incisor) to 8 (third molar). So 11 is the upper right central incisor and 47 the lower right second molar.

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.

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