How much do you really know about the teeth chart numbered? You might know those wisdom teeth are on the very bottom, and you might even know that the top central incisors are flanked by the lateral incisors, but what else do you know about your teeth and how they work together? In an effort to help you get to know your teeth better, we’ve put together this guide to the Universal Numbering System for Teeth (UNST). Understanding this system will help you more easily identify teeth, whether you’re at home or at the dentist’s office.
Why You Should Know About UNS
Whether you’re looking at a picture or standing in front of someone’s mouth, identifying teeth can be tricky. There are a few different systems used in dentistry and even within each system, no two people agree on every detail. For example, some people call premolars bicuspids and vice versa, while others prefer to break each category down into more specific terms like canine and first molar. It all depends on what system they learned first, so it’s important to know how different names correlate with numbers. The Universal Numbering System (UNS) is an easy way to understand how those different tooth classifications line up. If you don’t already know your teeth’ names chart them off by heart and take a look below!
Where Did It Come From?
The universal numbering system for teeth was created in 1899 by Henry Trendley Dean and adopted by dentists around the world. The system is fairly intuitive, with each tooth having a unique number based on its position relative to other teeth. As you get older, your teeth naturally shift and drift into different positions, which is why it’s important to see a dentist every six months or so. By doing so, they can evaluate your dental situation and make sure everything is aligned properly (e.g., upper right 2 meets upper left 4). Since misalignment can lead to oral health problems such as crowded jaws or impacted wisdom teeth, these visits are crucial.
How Does It Work?
Most people are familiar with tooth names (e.g., incisors, molars), but some may not be aware of how they got their names. Take incisors, for example. These teeth get their name from their function—they cut and help you chew your food. The root word inside means to cut into Latin, which is where we get our English word incident. Here’s a brief rundown of other examples
Where Are We Now?
We’ve all been there – you and your hygienist are looking at a chart, and you see names of teeth that sound familiar, but you can’t quite remember which tooth is in what location. This can happen whether you’re a patient or a dental professional. To help everyone involved better understand how teeth relate to one another, we created our own universal numbering system for teeth. Now, using standard terms (which never change) makes it easier for dentists and patients alike. Keep reading to learn more about how we number teeth!
Examples Of How UNS Works
The Universal Numbering System (UNS) is a unique coding system used by dentists and other dental professionals to accurately identify teeth. The chart below shows how UNS numbers each tooth in your mouth. Note that molars, premolars, and canines are all identified with whole numbers. Since there is no left canine or right canine, these teeth are simply referred to as 4, 5, 6, etc.
What Does This Mean For You?
With names like first lower molar and second upper premolar, some dentists might joke that there is no universal number system for teeth. But with a little memorization and practice, you can easily get on top of it. Here’s what you need to know: There are four quadrants in a mouth; each has eight spaces that have numbers assigned to them (some people also add letters).
Any Final Thoughts?
The universal numbering system is widely used. However, it can be confusing. To help make things easier, we’ve included a chart that correlates each tooth in your mouth with its location and name according to international standards set by both The World Health Organization (WHO) and The American Dental Association (ADA). You can also use our chart as a quick reference when speaking with your dental care professional.
