Tooth Numbering Systems NOTES

There are several systems of numbering teeth. 

Of these, three systems are currently popular, they are:

1. Zsigmondy/Palmer system

2. American Dental Association system

3. Federation Dentaire International system

Zsigmondy/Palmer system

• Oldest system

• Also called angular or grid system
• Primary teeth:  denoted by alphabets A to E starting from midline and proceeding to the posterior tooth

• Permanent teeth: denoted by numbers 1 to 8 starting from midline and proceeding to the posterior tooth

Zsigmondy/Palmer system

Primary dentition               Right        Left Maxilla      E D C B A   A B C D E   Mandible E D C B A   A B C D E

Permanent dentition              Right       Left  Maxilla   8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mandible 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Advantages:

• Simple to use
• No confusion between primary and permanent teeth

Disadvantages:

• Oral communication is difficult
• Are indicated by the same number or alphabet which can be confusing.

American Dental Association system

• Universal system

• Maxillary Primary teeth:  denoted by alphabets A to J starting from maxillary right second molar to maxillary left second molar

• Mandibular Primary teeth:  denoted by alphabets K to T starting from mandibular left second molar to mandibular right second molar

• Maxillary Permanent teeth:  denoted by numbers 1 to 16 starting from maxillary right second molar to maxillary left second molar

• Mandibular Permanent  teeth:  denoted by numbers 16 to 32 starting from mandibular left second molar to mandibular right second molar

American Dental Association system [ADA]

Primary Dentition              Right         Left     Maxilla A B C D E     F G H I J                           Mandible   T S R Q P     O N M L K

Permanent Dentition Right              Left        Maxilla 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8        9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16     Mandible 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25       24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17

Advantages:

•   Each tooth has separate letter or number  denoting it

Disadvantages:

• Difficult to remember separate letter or number denoting a tooth

Federation Dentaire International system

•   1971

•   Two digit system

•   First digit: denotes quadrant to which tooth belongs

•   Second digit: denotes tooth

•   Both digits pronounced separately

Federation Dentaire International system

Primary Dentition                 Right    Left Maxilla        55 54 53 52 51     61 62 63 64 65                      Mandible 85 84 83 82 81     71 72 73 74 75

Permanent Dentition            Right          Left Maxilla 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28      Mandible 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41   31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

Advantages:

•     Each tooth has separate number
•     Simple to understand and teach
•     Easy to pronounce in conversation
•     Easy to transmit over computer and easy for charting.

Disadvantages:

•   Maybe confused with ADA numbers