How Are Your Teeth Numbered? Understanding Your Dental Chart

How Are Your Teeth Numbered? Understanding Your Dental ChartGregory skeens d.d.s.encinitas family dentistry

 

Trying to interpret your dental x-rays can be very confusing, so it’s no surprise that many people are afraid of the dentist. The good news is, it’s easy to learn how to read your dental chart.

With this guide, you can feel more confident and prepared ahead of your next important dental procedure.

Types of Human Teeth

Adults have 32 teeth , which can be broken down into four categories:

  • Molars
    Our molars are responsible for helping us thoroughly chew our food. A healthy set of teeth will have 12 molars arranged in the back of the mouth. Molars are grown to be extremely strong to grind and crush textured foods for safe swallowing. Wisdom teeth are a type of molar which emerge at the very back of the gums in some dental patients.
  • Premolars
    Also known as bicuspids, our premolars are slightly less strong than our molars. Each side of the mouth holds 4 premolars, or 8 premolars in total. Bicuspids usually have a flat surface to help tear food apart and assist the molars with food liquefaction.
  • Incisors
    Our 8 frontmost teeth (4 on the top and 4 on the bottom) are referred to as incisors. This tooth type is the first to emerge in infants as early as 6 months old. The center two incisors are known as “central”, while the two on either side are known as “lateral”. Our incisors are designed for biting and gripping food for chewing.
  • Canines
    Healthy mouths contain 4 canine teeth which flank our incisors (2 on the top and 2 on the bottom). Canine teeth are distinctly sharper than our other teeth in order to effectively tear food into chewable chunks. Our canine teeth can have a more animalistic appearance, and some evolutionists believe humans developed canines to be able to consume meat.

Dental Chart of Teeth Numbers

Now that we are familiar with the four types of teeth, we can easily pinpoint the location of each tooth in our mouths. A healthy human mouth will have symmetrically arranged teeth so that teeth on opposing sides of the mouth will be of the same type.

How Are Teeth Numbered?

Teeth 1-16

Our first 16 teeth are located at the top of the mouth. We start with Tooth #1, a molar on the back right side of our mouths known as the upper right quadrant. Dentists and dental hygienists will count through to Tooth #16, located in the upper left quadrant.

TOP TEETH

Tooth Number Type of Tooth Quadrant Opposite Tooth
1 Molar Upper Right 16
2 Molar Upper Right 15
3 Molar Upper Right 14
4 Premolar Upper Right 13
5 Premolar Upper Right 12
6 Canine Upper Right 11
7 Incisor Upper Right 10
8 Incisor Upper Right 9
9 Incisor Upper Left 8
10 Incisor Upper Left 7
11 Canine Upper Left 6
12 Premolar Upper Left 5
13 Premolar Upper Left 4
14 Molar Upper Left 3
15 Molar Upper Left 2
16 Molar Upper Left 1

Teeth 17-32

We continue counting our bottom teeth from Tooth #17 found in the lower left quadrant. Then, we work our way back to the lower right quadrant, ending at Tooth #32.

BOTTOM TEETH

Tooth Number Type of Tooth Quadrant Opposite Tooth
17 Molar Lower Left 32
18 Molar Lower Left 31
19 Molar Lower Left 30
20 Premolar Lower Left 29
21 Premolar Lower Left 28
22 Canine Lower Left 27
23 Incisor Lower Left 26
24 Incisor Lower Left 25
25 Incisor Lower Right 24
26 Incisor Lower Right 23
27 Canine Lower Right 22
28 Premolar Lower Right 21
29 Premolar Lower Right 20
30 Molar Bottom Right 19
31 Molar Bottom Right 18
32 Molar Bottom Right 17

What Are Primary Teeth?

As you may already know, human beings grow two sets of teeth in their lifetime. As infants and young children, we develop 20 individual primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, milk teeth, or deciduous teeth. Baby teeth usually start to erupt from the gums in infants aged 6 months. Normally, our upper and lower incisors are the first teeth that appear (and also the first teeth to fall out).

Primary teeth are noticeably smaller than adult teeth. The roots are also thinner and shorter so they can easily grow out of the gums to make way for our permanent teeth.

Children usually retain their primary teeth until the age of 6 or 7, when they begin to loosen and shed. Primary teeth should be monitored by parents throughout childhood because they will determine your child’s ability to speak and chew food into adulthood.

When Do Permanent Teeth Come In?

Once a child begins to shed their primary teeth, their permanent adult teeth will continue to grow until the age of 21 when they have completely emerged.

As stated above, a healthy adult mouth will consist of 32 permanent teeth. Our adult teeth are much larger and stronger than the primary teeth we nurse in childhood, but we must care for them with the same amount of attention. Since the roots of our permanent teeth are much longer and thicker, improper care can lead to a tremendous amount of tooth pain.

Since we do not grow any more teeth after our permanent teeth have settled in, chronic dental issues need to be addressed by a dental professional.

Dr. Skeens can help you read your dental chart.

Dr. Skeens and our dental team at Encinitas Family Dentistry would be happy to help you navigate your personal dental chart. We’re dedicated to providing the information you need about each and every one of your teeth to help you make educated decisions about your dental care. We offer a number of important dental services, including:

  • Dental Whitening
  • Teeth Irrigation
  • X-Ray Exams
  • Screening for Gum Disease
  • Oral Cancer Screening
  • Tooth Decay Evaluation
  • And much more.

We want to help you achieve a radiant smile. Call us at (760) 944-9288 , and let us show you how!

¹ “Human Teeth Dental Charts – Bradford Family Dentistry.” Bradford Family Dentistry , www.bradfordfamilydentist.ca/human-teeth-dental-charts .

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Dr. Gregory Skeens Encinitas Family Dentistry

Welcome to the Encinitas dental office of Gregory Skeens, JR., DDS. We are your home for caring dental treatment that supports superior oral health and helps you achieve the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. Our modern facility is equipped with cutting-edge technology and our team is here to make your visit enjoyable and relaxing.

We take a truly individualized approach to dentistry, which is why our practice is so popular. After every treatment, Encinitas dentist Dr. Skeens personally makes follow- up phone calls to patients to ensure that they are feeling well. Your comfort and well-being are of ultimate importance.

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