What is the chart for?
Clear documentation of teeth and findings.
← All explanationsDental chart / tooth numbers
What does tooth “one six” mean?
A dental chart gives each tooth an identifiable label. In the FDI system commonly used in Germany, there are two digits: the first identifies the quarter of the mouth and the second counts from the centre. Right and left always refer to the patient’s own sides.
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Four quarters of the mouth
For permanent teeth, 1 means upper right, 2 upper left, 3 lower left and 4 lower right, always from the patient’s perspective.
Count from the centre backwards
The second digit counts from the centre backwards. Tooth 16, read “one six”, is the first permanent molar on the upper right.
Baby teeth have their own numbers
The baby-tooth quadrants use 5, 6, 7 and 8. Each quarter counts from 1 to 5, keeping baby teeth and their successors distinct.
At a glance
What do the digits mean?
First the quarter of the mouth, then the position from the centre.
Whose right and left?
Always the patient’s own sides.
Knowledge in motion
Explained in 36 seconds.
Three steps. Straight to the point.
Explanations are also shown on screen.
Silent film in German · English explanations in the three views above
Often confused
Tooth number or billing code?
A tooth number identifies a location. A billing code identifies a charged service. Both may appear on an invoice and do not mean the same thing.
Quick answers
Is tooth 11 the eleventh tooth?
No. The FDI digits are interpreted separately: 1 means upper right and the second 1 means central incisor. It is read “one one”.
Why can a diagram look reversed?
A chart is often displayed as if looking at a person facing you, so their right side appears on the left of the image. Patient-side labels are what matter.
Are the numbers the same everywhere?
FDI is widely used internationally but is not the only system. Records from other countries may use another notation. If uncertain, clarify both the tooth and the numbering system.
At the practice
For your consultation
A question to discuss with Dr. med. dent. Niusha Barahmand Pour:
Can we match the tooth numbers on the chart to my examination findings together?
Symptoms, examination findings and personal wishes form the basis of individual treatment planning.
Matching tooth numbers to the mouth can make a report or treatment plan clearer.
Discuss questions about your findingsChoose an appointment on DoctolibLearning for dental trainees & teamsUnderstand clinical terms and build your knowledge
Build on the simple explanation with clinical terms, key distinctions and a knowledge question.
- Quadrant
- One of four quarters of the dentition.
- FDI system
- An internationally used two-digit tooth notation.
- Patient perspective
- Direction based on the treated person’s sides, not the viewer’s.
Know the difference
The first digit separates location and tooth set: permanent quadrants 1–4, primary quadrants 5–8. The second indicates position from the midline.
Sources for further learning
Sources and context
Editorial research: 23 October 2026. This explanation covers general principles and does not replace a personal examination. Suitable treatment is discussed following individual assessment.