FDI Notation
Also written as: FDI — Fédération Dentaire Internationale
The two-digit tooth numbering system adopted by the Fédération Dentaire Internationale, used internationally to identify individual teeth.
Full Definition
The FDI (Fédération Dentaire Internationale) World Dental Federation notation is a two-digit system in which the first digit identifies the quadrant (1–4 for permanent teeth, 5–8 for primary teeth) and the second digit identifies the tooth position within that quadrant (1–8). For example, tooth 36 denotes the lower-left first permanent molar. Editors working on international dental publications should verify which notation system is in use — FDI, Universal Numbering System (used in the United States), or Palmer notation — and ensure consistency throughout the document. Mixing systems within a single document is a common editorial error.
Usage
Usage note: Confirm the notation system at the start of editing a document and apply it consistently. FDI notation is the international standard; the Universal system is predominant in US publications.
In Context
- "According to FDI notation, the upper-right central incisor is recorded as tooth 11." — Dental charting manual
- "The manuscript mixed FDI and Palmer notations across tables; the editor standardized all references to FDI before submission." — Journal manuscript review