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Understanding the Tooth Numbering Chart

Did you know that there is a tooth number chart? This chart helps identify each tooth in the mouth with a corresponding number. It can help when it comes to brushing your teeth and identifying cavities. A tooth numbering system is a helpful tool for anyone who wants to learn more about their teeth. Understanding the numbering system can help you keep track of any dental problems. This post will discuss everything you need to know about the numbering system of teeth.

The tooth chart allows you to segment teeth in a useful way in understanding their location.

Maxillary and Mandibular Arches

The top teeth, numbered 1-16, are known as the maxillary arch. The top teeth numbering starts on your right-hand side – so your rear right wisdom tooth, or 3rd molar, would be your number one tooth.  

The bottom teeth, 17-32, are known as the mandibular arch. Their numbering begins on the rear left wisdom tooth, or 3rd molar, is the lowest numbered bottom tooth at 17.

Anterior and Posterior Teeth

Now that you know the difference between the vernacular for top and bottom teeth, we’ll discuss the difference between the front and back teeth. The anterior, or front, teeth are the following:

  • Top: 6-11
  • Bottom: 22-27

The posterior teeth, as you might guess, have four quadrants and constitute the following teeth:

  • Top: 1-5 and 12-16
  • Bottom: 17-21 and 28-32

Why is Tooth Numbering System Important to Dentists and Patients
Dentists use the chart to help them identify which teeth need to be treated. Patients can use the chart to keep track of their dental health. The chart is also used to educate children about taking care of their teeth. Tooth numbers can also be helpful when identifying cavities. Dentists will often use a mirror to help them see all teeth, but they may also ask patients to identify a specific tooth by number.

There are a few reasons why the tooth chart exists

Reason One: Standardize dental identification, treatment, and research.
The chart helps ensure that all teeth are treated the same way by dentists and have research done consistently. The chart allows dentists to quickly and easily communicate with each other about a patient’s dental health.

Reason Two: Help patients understand their dental health.
The tooth numbering system is used to educate patients about their teeth and what they can do to keep them healthy.

Reason Three: Help track growth and development
By understanding how teeth grow and develop, dentists can better diagnose and treat problems with teeth.

How to Use the Tooth Numbering System

It can be challenging to reach all areas of the mouth, so knowing which tooth is which can help to ensure that all teeth are getting brushed properly. Many dental health professionals recommend thinking about your teeth as quadrants. You can split the maxillary, or upper arch and the lower mandibular arch in half and focus on eight teeth at a time.

When you brush your teeth, you will want to start with teeth 1-8, the right half of your upper teeth and work your way around the mouth in a clockwise direction. You can use a similar approach with flossing,  starting in the lower right corner of your mouth at tooth number 32 and then working your way counterclockwise back up to tooth number one.

Names and Numbers of Teeth

Each tooth has a specific name and number assigned to it. The names, as you’ll notice, align on each side as the types of teeth are mirrored on each side of the mouth. Thus, teeth 8 and 9 have the same name, as do teeth number one and 16.

Upper Right Quadrant

1 Wisdom Tooth (3rd Molar)
2 Molar (2nd Molar)
3 Molar (1st Molar)
4 Bicuspid (2nd)
5 Bicuspid (1st)
6 Canine (Eye tooth / Cuspid)
7 Incisor (Lateral)
8 Incisor(Central)

Upper Left Quadrant

9 Incisor (Central)
10 Incisor (Lateral)
11 Canine (Eye tooth/cuspid)
12 Bicuspid (1st)
13 Bicuspid (2nd)
14 Molar (1st)
15 Molar (2nd)
16 Wisdom Tooth(3rd Molar)

Lower Left Quadrant

17 Wisdom Tooth (3rd Molar)
18 Molar (2nd Molar)
19 Molar (1st Molar)
20 Bicuspid (2nd)
21 Bicuspid (1st)
22 Canine (Eye tooth / Cuspid)
23 Incisor (Lateral)
24 Incisor (Central)

Lower Right Quadrant

25 Incisor (Central)
26 Incisor (Lateral)
27 Canine (Eye tooth / Cuspid)
28 Bicuspid (1st)
29 Bicuspid (2nd)
30 Molar (1st Molar)
31 Molar (2nd Molar)
32 Wisdom Tooth (3rd Molar)

A tooth number system is a helpful tool for both dentists and patients. It is used to track dental health, educate children about taking care of their teeth, and help dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth. Understanding the tooth numbering system can help you take care of your teeth. Do you have any questions about the numbered dental chart or your dental health? If so, contact your local Fortson Dentistry office today to set up an appointment.