Universal Notation System. Zsigmondy/Palmer Notation System. Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI).

1. TOOTH NUMBERING SYSTEM /
TOOTH IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS
BY – K KISHOR KUMAR
24-1-2014

2. WHY DO WE NEED ?
• system used by dentists to associate information to a
specific tooth.
• In clinical practice some “shorthand” system of tooth
notation is necessary for recording data.
To do so efficiently, it is necessary to adopt a type of code
or numbering system for teeth

3. Types of numbering system’s.
• There are several systems in world,
• 3 main systems are :
1. Universal Notation System.
2. Zsigmondy/Palmer Notation System.
3. Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI).

4. PRIMARY DENTITION
• Dental formula for
the deciduous teeth

5. PERMANENT DENTITION
•Dental formula for the
permanent human
dentition is as follows

6. Universal Notation System
1)For the primary teeth ;
• The universal system of notation for the primary dentition
uses ‘uppercase letters’ for each of the primary teeth.
• For the maxillary teeth, beginning with the right second molar, letters A
through J, and for the mandibular teeth, letters K through T, beginning
with the left mandibular second molar.
• The ADA in 1968 officially recommended the “universal” numbering
system.
2) For the permanent teeth ;

7. Universal Notation System
• The universal system of notation
for the permanent dentition uses
‘numbers’ for each of the
permanent teeth.
• The maxillary teeth are numbered
from 1 through 16, beginning with
the right third molar. Beginning
with the mandibular left third
molar, the teeth are numbered 17
through 32.

8. Zsigmondy/Palmer Notation System.
• Symbolic system
• In this system the arches are
divided into quadrants.
- upper right
- upper left
- lower right
- lower left
The Palmer notation for the entire
deciduous dentition is as follows:

9. Zsigmondy/Palmer Notation System.
• For the permanent dentition is a four-quadrant symbolic system.
• Beginning with the central incisors, the teeth are numbered 1 through
8 (or more) in each arch.
- upper right
- upper left
- lower right
- lower left

10. Federation Dentaire Internationale
(FDI).
• Two-digit system.
• Proposed by FDI has been Adopted by the WHO and by other
organizations such as the International Association for Dental
Research.
• The first digit indicates the quadrant: 5 to 8 for the primary dentition.
• The second digit indicates the tooth within a quadrant 1 to 5 for the
primary teeth.

11. Federation Dentaire Internationale
(FDI).
• The first digit indicates the quadrant: 1 to 4 for the
permanent dentition.
• The second digit indicates the tooth within a quadrant:1
to 8 for the permanent teeth.
• For example, the permanent upper right central incisor
is 11 (pronounced “one one,” not “eleven”).