Dental numbers

• Adult (permanent) teeth identified by numbers
  • From the midline to the back of the mouth on each side, there is a central incisor, a lateral incisor, a canine, two premolars (bicuspids), and three molars
• Children (non-permanent) teeth identified by letters
• Common landmarks:
  • 1: Right upper wisdom
  • 8 & 9: Upper incisors
  • 16: Left upper wisdom
  • 17: Left lower wisdom
  • 24 & 25: Lower incisors
  • 32: Right lower wisdom

Tooth descriptors

• Facial: Portion of tooth seen when the mouth is open/smiles. Applicable to all teeth
  • Labial: facial surface of the incisors and canines
  • Buccal: facial surface of the premolars and molars
• Oral: Portion of tooth that faces the tongue or palate. Applies to all teeth
  • Lingual: Toward the tongue; the oral surface of the mandibular (and maxillary) teeth
  • Palatal: Toward the palate; the oral surface of the maxillary teeth
• Apical: Toward the tip of the root of the tooth
• Coronal: Toward the crown or the biting surface of the tooth
  • Occlusal: Biting or chewing surface of the premolars and molars
  • Incisal: Biting or chewing surface of the incisors and canines
• Approximal/interproximal: contacting surfaces between two adjacent teeth
  • Mesial: interproximal surface facing anteriorly or closest to the midline
  • Distal: interproximal surface facing posteriorly or away from the midline

See Also

• Dental problems