Universal Shorthand System
Universal Shorthand for the Secondary Dentition
The Universal (American) shorthand numbering system is the shorthand system used in the United States. Common to other numbering systems, teeth in the secondary (permanent) dentition are numbered in a clockwise fashion from the maxillary right third molar (1) to the mandibular right third molar (32). This system does not use quadrant numbering but uses consecutive numbers from 1 to 32 to number the secondary (permanent) teeth. The mandibular left third molar in the Universal system is 17 and is pronounced "seventeen". The same tooth in the International system is tooth 3.8 and is pronounced tooth "three eight".
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Rollover image to identify the longhand and Universal shorthand for each tooth. | |
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Rollover image to identify the longhand and Universal shorthand for each tooth. | |
Universal Shorthand Numbering System for the Primary Dentition
The Universal shorthand system for the primary dentition uses capital letters from A-T and follows the same pattern as the secondary (permanent) dentition. The primary maxillary right second molar is represented by the letter A and continues alphabetically in a clockwise fashion to the mandibular right second molar which is represented by the letter T.
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Rollover image to identify the longhand and Universal shorthand for each tooth. | |
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Rollover image to identify the longhand and Universal shorthand for each tooth. | |