Question

Compare and contrast assigned teeth.
Assign set of teeth in the permanent dentition

Answer 1

Short answer first
- Most common tooth-identification systems: Universal (US), FDI (ISO), and Palmer. They use different numbering/notation but refer to the same 32 permanent teeth.
- Below: a short compare/contrast, then a full assignment (mapping) of all permanent teeth in the three systems.

Compare / contrast
- Universal (American): numbers permanent teeth 1–32 (1 = maxillary right third molar → 16 = maxillary left third molar; 17 = mandibular left third molar → 32 = mandibular right third molar). Pros: simple single number; widely used in the U.S. Cons: not position-explicit (you must memorize starting point); potential ambiguity in spoken/written communication across regions.
- FDI (ISO) two-digit system: first digit = quadrant (1 = UR, 2 = UL, 3 = LL, 4 = LR for permanent), second digit = tooth position from midline (1–8). Examples: 11 = upper right central incisor, 36 = lower left first molar. Pros: systematic, unambiguous, recommended internationally, easy for electronic records. Cons: uses two-digit codes (minor learning curve if used to Universal).
- Palmer notation: numbers 1–8 for each quadrant plus quadrant symbol (┘└┐┌ etc.). Example: upper right central incisor = "1" with upper-right quadrant symbol. Pros: clear quadrant + position, popular in orthodontics and some UK/European practices. Cons: requires quadrant symbols (less convenient in plain text/electronic records), can be confusing without the symbol.

Assign set of teeth in the permanent dentition
(Names: central incisor, lateral incisor, canine (cuspid), first premolar (first bicuspid), second premolar (second bicuspid), first molar, second molar, third molar (wisdom).)

Upper right (patient’s upper-right quadrant)
- Third molar (wisdom): Universal 1 ; FDI 18 ; Palmer UR 8
- Second molar: Universal 2 ; FDI 17 ; Palmer UR 7
- First molar: Universal 3 ; FDI 16 ; Palmer UR 6
- Second premolar: Universal 4 ; FDI 15 ; Palmer UR 5
- First premolar: Universal 5 ; FDI 14 ; Palmer UR 4
- Canine (cuspid): Universal 6 ; FDI 13 ; Palmer UR 3
- Lateral incisor: Universal 7 ; FDI 12 ; Palmer UR 2
- Central incisor: Universal 8 ; FDI 11 ; Palmer UR 1

Upper left (patient’s upper-left quadrant)
- Central incisor: Universal 9 ; FDI 21 ; Palmer UL 1
- Lateral incisor: Universal 10 ; FDI 22 ; Palmer UL 2
- Canine: Universal 11 ; FDI 23 ; Palmer UL 3
- First premolar: Universal 12 ; FDI 24 ; Palmer UL 4
- Second premolar: Universal 13 ; FDI 25 ; Palmer UL 5
- First molar: Universal 14 ; FDI 26 ; Palmer UL 6
- Second molar: Universal 15 ; FDI 27 ; Palmer UL 7
- Third molar: Universal 16 ; FDI 28 ; Palmer UL 8

Lower left (patient’s lower-left quadrant)
- Third molar: Universal 17 ; FDI 38 ; Palmer LL 8
- Second molar: Universal 18 ; FDI 37 ; Palmer LL 7
- First molar: Universal 19 ; FDI 36 ; Palmer LL 6
- Second premolar: Universal 20 ; FDI 35 ; Palmer LL 5
- First premolar: Universal 21 ; FDI 34 ; Palmer LL 4
- Canine: Universal 22 ; FDI 33 ; Palmer LL 3
- Lateral incisor: Universal 23 ; FDI 32 ; Palmer LL 2
- Central incisor: Universal 24 ; FDI 31 ; Palmer LL 1

Lower right (patient’s lower-right quadrant)
- Central incisor: Universal 25 ; FDI 41 ; Palmer LR 1
- Lateral incisor: Universal 26 ; FDI 42 ; Palmer LR 2
- Canine: Universal 27 ; FDI 43 ; Palmer LR 3
- First premolar: Universal 28 ; FDI 44 ; Palmer LR 4
- Second premolar: Universal 29 ; FDI 45 ; Palmer LR 5
- First molar: Universal 30 ; FDI 46 ; Palmer LR 6
- Second molar: Universal 31 ; FDI 47 ; Palmer LR 7
- Third molar: Universal 32 ; FDI 48 ; Palmer LR 8

Practical note
- If you work in or with U.S. records, expect Universal notation. For international literature and many digital systems, FDI is standard and preferred for clarity. Palmer is still used clinically in some specialties (orthodontics) and by clinicians familiar with it; when using Palmer in plain text, always state the quadrant to avoid ambiguity.