Dental Anatomy

Dental anatomy is an anatomy field for the study of human tooth structures. 

Tooth formation begins before birth, and the teeth's eventual morphology is dictated during this time. It's also a taxonomical science, concerned with the naming of teeth and structures and how they are made, and information serving as a practical purpose in dental treatment.

• eventual: final

There are mostly 20 primary ("baby") teeth and 32 permanent ones, the last four being third molars or "wisdom teeth", each may not or will grow in. Among primary teeth, 10 are mostly in the maxilla (upper jaw) and the other 10, in the mandible (lower jaw). Among permanent teeth, 16 are in the maxilla and the other 16, in the mandible. Each tooth has specific distinguishing features.

Universal Numbering System

The Universal Numbering System or the "American System", is a dental notation system commonly used in the US.

Teeth notations are used to denote and specify information linked with a particular tooth. This allows for easy identification, communication and record-keeping in an efficient yet precise manner. The four most common systems are the Universal numbering system, FDI/ISO 3950 System, Zsigmondy-Palmer notation (but more often referred to as only Palmer) and alphanumeric notation.

Each notation allows the ability to differentiate between deciduous and permanent dentitions:

• Deciduous or primary dentition consists of 20 teeth: 

• 10 teeth per archs (maxillary/superior and mandibular/inferior), containing:

  • 2 central incisors

  • 2 lateral incisors

  • 2 canines

  • 4 molars

• Permanent dentition consists of 32 teeth: 

• 16 teeth in each arch, containing:

  • 2 central incisors

  • 2 lateral incisors

  • 2 canines

  • 4 premolars

  • 6 molars

Note: All notation starts in the upper right from the patient’s point of view. 

The images below exhibit where each notation is, which tooth it's used for, and its names.