You know your blood type, but do you know your tooth chart numbers? If not, then this is the right article for you. Because knowing how to correctly read your tooth chart numbers can tell you so much about your dental health. To understand how this works, it’s best to start at the beginning and explain what these numbers mean to begin with. For those of you who don’t know, the term tooth chart numbers refers to a number and letter combination that corresponds to where in your mouth the specific tooth sits.
The anatomy of a tooth
The upper teeth are 1, 2, and 3 on both sides of your mouth, for a total of 16 permanent teeth. The lower teeth are 4, 5, 6 and 7 on both sides of your mouth for a total of 28 permanent teeth that include: 14 front (incisors), 8 middle (premolars) and 6 back (molars). How many canines do you have? Canines are represented by c1-c8 on both sets of teeth in our mouth—in other words there are two canines in each quadrant: one upper left and one lower right.
And while we’re at it, let’s talk about wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are also called third molars and they represent m3-m6 on both sets of teeth. So if you’ve got all four wisdom teeth they would be labeled as p4 (upper right), p5 (lower left), m3 (upper left) and m6 (lower right). If you’re missing any wisdom teeth, those spaces will be filled with either an extra premolar or an extra molar depending on what’s available when your wisdom tooth is supposed to come in.
A visual guide to the teeth in your mouth
How are your teeth numbered on a dental x-ray? Knowing where everything is, as well as what type of tooth it is, can be very helpful in understanding dentistry. Dental radiographs show teeth number 1 through 8 from left to right – but do you know which one is which without having to refer back to an old x-ray?
Don’t worry if you don’t, because we have a handy guide for you here! Stay tuned for tips on staying healthy and avoiding gum disease later in our post… it may surprise you just how important oral hygiene is! If you live in Brookline, MA and want to see what orthodontic treatment options are available to improve your smile or prevent issues like periodontal disease, call today. We offer many affordable payment plans so call us today!
How do I read my teeth number?
While knowing what your teeth number is will not help you win a court case in Texas, it can help put in perspective just how many teeth are in our mouths. Each of us has 32 permanent adult teeth which are divided into 4 quadrants: upper right and left, lower right and left and an additional molar located at back of mouth on each side of our jaw (known as wisdom teeth). The 4 sections have 8 teeth each with one extra that makes for a total of 32 permanent adult teeth.
While that may seem straightforward enough, depending on which orthodontist near me we go to for treatment, things could get very complicated when addressing our baby (or primary) teeth. A simple way to remember what goes where is to think about a clock face.
Baby teeth start at 12 o’clock and move counter-clockwise until they fall out around age 6 or 7. However, if you’re missing any teeth or had them removed due to decay or injury, then take a picture of your smile and ask your best orthodontists near me for advice on how best to proceed next!
Understand your individual score
Just because one dentist gives you a certain score, doesn’t mean it will be accurate for every dentist. Ask your doctor or orthodontist for an individualized version of your score; if you don’t have one, ask them for their best estimate (each doctor may give a different score). If you need assistance determining which teeth are affected and what treatment is best, seek out an orthodontist in your area who has experience working with patients like yourself. The right specialist can help guide you on whether braces are best or another treatment is in order, based on the shape of each individual tooth and jaw line.
Should you be concerned about your score?
If it turns out you’re one of those people with a poor score, don’t panic. Experts agree that only about 10 percent of Americans have real concerns about missing teeth and needing orthodontic treatment. But if you are one of them, or even if there are gaps in your smile that bother you.
make an appointment with an orthodontist who can best help determine whether or not more work is necessary for fixing dental health issues like crowding or misaligned teeth. And don’t forget to schedule regular checkups as part of a healthy lifestyle because good oral hygiene and diet choices can help preserve what teeth remain!
What are typical scores based on age?
Now remember, every child develops at their own pace and some may have more crooked teeth than others, Zuercher says. But with braces it is possible for children to correct an overbite, underbite or crossbite. A child’s teeth should ideally line up in a row when they close their mouth; however, some children are born with spacing between their teeth that can lead to an abnormal bite and problems later on in life.
According to Dr. of Ritchey Orthodontics, scores vary by age: Children ages 4-6: 20-25% of kids will score 0 (no crowding) by age 6. This means that 80-85% of kids will have at least one space between their upper front teeth by age 6. Kids ages 7-9: 25-30% of kids will score 0 (no crowding) by age 9. This means that 70-75% of kids will have at least one space between their upper front teeth by age 9.
When should I see my dentist if I’m worried about my score?
If you’re worried about getting a good score, see a dentist soon before it’s too late. Many factors go into your final score—the length of time since you last saw a dentis. If you have crowding or gaps in your teeth, or any other dental problems that may make it harder for them to judge how well your smile will come out after treatment. Start planning for success by booking an appointment with one of our best orthodontists near me today!
It may be faster than you think! And once you’re there, don’t forget to ask questions about what can be done and what your options are. After all, every mouth is different! We’ll work with you on a plan just for you so that when we get started. We’ll already know where we’re going and how best to get there.
The only thing left is smiling confidently knowing that our best orthodontists near me. Will help us reach new heights (literally!) on our journey toward straight teeth. Get ready to smile big when they tell us job well done!
