Dental Charting Overview
Dental charting is the process of recording the condition of a patient’s teeth and oral structures. It is used for diagnosis, treatment planning, and legal documentation.
1. Types of Dental Charts
a. Tooth Chart
Shows each tooth (32 permanent or 20 primary)
Records decay, missing teeth, restorations (fillings, crowns), and abnormalities
b. Periodontal Chart
Focuses on the health of gums and bone
Includes probing depths, gum recession, mobility, and bleeding
2. Tooth Numbering Systems
a. Universal Numbering System (U.S.)
Permanent teeth: Numbered 1–32
Starts from upper right third molar (1) to upper left third molar (16)
Then lower left third molar (17) to lower right third molar (32)
Primary teeth: Labeled A–T
b. Palmer Notation
Uses quadrant brackets (┘└ ┐┌) and numbers 1–8 (permanent) or A–E (primary)
Common in orthodontics and some UK practices
c. FDI World Dental Federation System
Two-digit system
First digit = quadrant (1–4 for adult, 5–8 for child)
Second digit = tooth position (1–8 or 1–5)
3. Common Abbreviations and Symbols
| Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|
| O | Occlusal surface |
| M | Mesial surface |
| D | Distal surface |
| B or F | Buccal or Facial surface |
| L | Lingual surface |
| X | Missing tooth |
| C | Cavity (caries) |
| RCT | Root Canal Treatment |
| PFM | Porcelain Fused to Metal |
| MOD | Mesial-Occlusal-Distal filling (multi-surface) |
4. Periodontal Charting Components
Each tooth is typically assessed in six areas:
Mesiofacial
Midfacial
Distofacial
Mesiolingual
Midlingual
Distolingual
What is recorded:
Pocket depths (in millimeters)
Gum recession
Tooth mobility (graded 0–3)
Bleeding on probing (noted as BOP)
Furcation involvement (grades I–IV)
5. Why Dental Charting Matters
Tracks oral health changes over time
Aids in diagnosis and treatment planning
Helps communicate clearly among dental professionals
Serves as a legal record for insurance and care documentation
To learn more consider taking our Certified Dental Billing Specialist and Certified Dental Coder online class.