Dental notation
Encyclopedia
Dentists
, in writing or speech, use several different dental notation systems for associating information to a specific tooth. The three most common systems are the FDI World Dental Federation notation
, Universal numbering system (dental)
, and Palmer notation method. The FDI system is used worldwide, and the universal is used widely in the USA.
(ADA) recommended the use of the Palmer notation method in 1947. Since this method required the use of symbols, its use was difficult on keyboards. As a result, the association officially supported the universal system in 1968. The World Health Organization
and the Fédération Dentaire Internationale officially uses the two-digit numbering system of the FDI system.
For example: retention of a deciduous molar tooth in the otherwise regular intact lower right jaw, position 5, would be noted as: 41, 42, 43, 44, 85, 46, 47, 48.
Beware of mixing up the teeth on the positions denoted as 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 in the Palmer and FDI systems.
adult
upper right - 1x upper left - 2x
18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 | 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
R --------------------------------------------------- L
48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 | 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
lower right - 4x lower left - 3x
deciduous
upper right - 5x upper left - 6x
55 54 53 52 51 | 61 62 63 64 65
R --------------------------------- L
85 84 83 82 81 | 71 72 73 74 75
lower right - 8x lower left - 7x
I - Incisivi
C - Canini
P - premolar
M - molar
, it overwhelmingly continues to be the preferred method used by dental students and practitioners in the United Kingdom
. It was originally termed the "Zsigmondy system" after the Hungarian dentist Adolf Zsigmondy
who developed the idea in 1861, using a Zsigmondy cross to record quadrants of tooth positions.. Adult teeth were numbered 1 to 8, and the child primary dentition (also called deciduous, milk or baby teeth) were depicted with a quadrant grid using Roman numerals I, II, III, IV, V to number the teeth from the midline distally. Palmer changed this to A, B, C, D, E.
The Palmer notation consists of a symbol (┘└ ┐┌) designating in which quadrant the tooth is found and a number indicating the position from the midline. Adult teeth are numbered 1 to 8, with deciduous (baby) teeth indicated by a letter A to E. Hence the left and right maxillary central incisor would have the same number, "1", but the right one would have the symbol, "┘", underneath it, while the left one would have, "└".
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
, in writing or speech, use several different dental notation systems for associating information to a specific tooth. The three most common systems are the FDI World Dental Federation notation
FDI World Dental Federation notation
FDI World Dental Federation notation is widely used by dentists internationally to associate information to a specific tooth.Developed by the FDI World Dental Federation, World Dental Federation notation is also known as ISO 3950 notation....
, Universal numbering system (dental)
Universal numbering system (dental)
The Universal numbering system is a dental notation system for associating information to a specific tooth, and is commonly used in the United States.The designations "left" and "right" on the chart correspond to the patient's left and right, respectively....
, and Palmer notation method. The FDI system is used worldwide, and the universal is used widely in the USA.
History
A committee of the American Dental AssociationAmerican Dental Association
The American Dental Association is an American professional association established in 1859 which has more than 155,000 members. Based in Chicago, the ADA is the world's largest and oldest national dental association and promotes good oral health to the public while representing the dental...
(ADA) recommended the use of the Palmer notation method in 1947. Since this method required the use of symbols, its use was difficult on keyboards. As a result, the association officially supported the universal system in 1968. The World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
and the Fédération Dentaire Internationale officially uses the two-digit numbering system of the FDI system.
FDI World Dental Federation notation
The FDI World Dental Federation notation is widely used by dentists internationally to associate information to a specific tooth. Developed by the Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI), it is also known as ISO 3950 notation. The FDI system uses a two-digit numbering system in which the first number represents a tooth's quadrant and the second number represents the number of the tooth from the midline of the face. For permanent teeth, the upper right teeth begin with the number, "1". The upper left teeth begin with the number, "2". The lower left teeth begin with the number, "3". The lower right teeth begin with the number, "4". For primary teeth, the sequence of numbers goes 5, 6, 7, and 8 for the teeth in the upper right, upper left, lower left, and lower right respectively.For example: retention of a deciduous molar tooth in the otherwise regular intact lower right jaw, position 5, would be noted as: 41, 42, 43, 44, 85, 46, 47, 48.
Beware of mixing up the teeth on the positions denoted as 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 in the Palmer and FDI systems.
adult
upper right - 1x upper left - 2x
18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 | 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
R --------------------------------------------------- L
48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 | 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
lower right - 4x lower left - 3x
deciduous
Deciduous teeth
Deciduous teeth, otherwise known as reborner teeth, baby teeth, temporary teeth and primary teeth, are the first set of teeth in the growth development of humans and many other mammals. In some Asian countries they are referred to as fall teeth as they will eventually fall out, while in almost all...
upper right - 5x upper left - 6x
55 54 53 52 51 | 61 62 63 64 65
R --------------------------------- L
85 84 83 82 81 | 71 72 73 74 75
lower right - 8x lower left - 7x
I - Incisivi
C - Canini
P - premolar
M - molar
Palmer notation method
The Palmer notation is a system used by dentists to associate information to a specific tooth. Although supposedly superseded by the FDI World Dental Federation notationFDI World Dental Federation notation
FDI World Dental Federation notation is widely used by dentists internationally to associate information to a specific tooth.Developed by the FDI World Dental Federation, World Dental Federation notation is also known as ISO 3950 notation....
, it overwhelmingly continues to be the preferred method used by dental students and practitioners in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was originally termed the "Zsigmondy system" after the Hungarian dentist Adolf Zsigmondy
Adolf Zsigmondy
Adolf Zsigmondy, aka Adolph Zsigmondy was a dentist of Hungarian origin who lived in Vienna. It was he who conceived the idea of charting teeth on the Zsigmondy-cross...
who developed the idea in 1861, using a Zsigmondy cross to record quadrants of tooth positions.. Adult teeth were numbered 1 to 8, and the child primary dentition (also called deciduous, milk or baby teeth) were depicted with a quadrant grid using Roman numerals I, II, III, IV, V to number the teeth from the midline distally. Palmer changed this to A, B, C, D, E.
The Palmer notation consists of a symbol (┘└ ┐┌) designating in which quadrant the tooth is found and a number indicating the position from the midline. Adult teeth are numbered 1 to 8, with deciduous (baby) teeth indicated by a letter A to E. Hence the left and right maxillary central incisor would have the same number, "1", but the right one would have the symbol, "┘", underneath it, while the left one would have, "└".