
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.Ever wondered what your dentist was talking about when they are describing your teeth to the nurse? When they say that tooth “44” as a filling… Which tooth is this? Understanding the tooth numbering system can help you take care of your teeth. It is used to track dental health, educate children about taking care of their teeth, and help dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth. Thus, teeth 8 and 9 have the same name, as do teeth number one and 16.Ī tooth number system is a helpful tool for both dentists and patients. The names, as you’ll notice, align on each side as the types of teeth are mirrored on each side of the mouth. 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.Įach tooth has a specific name and number assigned to it. 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 split the maxillary, or upper arch and the lower mandibular arch in half and focus on eight teeth at a time. Many dental health professionals recommend thinking about your teeth as quadrants. 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. Reason Three: Help track growth and developmentīy understanding how teeth grow and develop, dentists can better diagnose and treat problems with teeth. The tooth numbering system is used to educate patients about their teeth and what they can do to keep them healthy.

Reason Two: Help patients understand their dental health. The chart allows dentists to quickly and easily communicate with each other about a patient’s dental health. The chart helps ensure that all teeth are treated the same way by dentists and have research done consistently. Reason One: Standardize dental identification, treatment, and research. There are a few reasons why the tooth chart exists 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. Tooth numbers can also be helpful when identifying cavities. The chart is also used to educate children about taking care of their teeth. Patients can use the chart to keep track of their dental health. Why is Tooth Numbering System Important to Dentists and Patientsĭentists use the chart to help them identify which teeth need to be treated. The posterior teeth, as you might guess, have four quadrants and constitute the following teeth: The anterior, or front, teeth are the following: 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. Their numbering begins on the rear left wisdom tooth, or 3 rd molar, is the lowest numbered bottom tooth at 17. The bottom teeth, 17-32, are known as the mandibular arch. The top teeth numbering starts on your right-hand side – so your rear right wisdom tooth, or 3 rd molar, would be your number one tooth.

The top teeth, numbered 1-16, are known as the maxillary arch. The tooth chart allows you to segment teeth in a useful way in understanding their location. This post will discuss everything you need to know about the numbering system of teeth. Understanding the numbering system can help you keep track of any dental problems. A tooth numbering system is a helpful tool for anyone who wants to learn more about their teeth. It can help when it comes to brushing your teeth and identifying cavities. Did you know that there is a tooth number chart? This chart helps identify each tooth in the mouth with a corresponding number.
