Always identify four attributes: arch, side, group, and position.
Question
Distinction
Upper or lower?
Maxillary or mandibular
Which side?
Patient's right or left
Before or behind the canines?
Anterior or posterior
Which member of the group?
Central/lateral; first/second/third
In Universal numbering, begin at the maxillary right third molar as #1, proceed to maxillary left #16, drop to mandibular left #17, and finish at mandibular right #32.
The NBC blueprint also requires FDI and Palmer notation. Do not infer those systems from the AFM Universal chart; add them only from a separately verified source.
¶ 2. Distinguish tooth structure from visible structure
Anatomical crown: enamel-covered portion.
Clinical crown: portion visible above the gingiva; it may include exposed root.
Cervical line / CEJ: boundary between enamel-covered crown and cementum-covered root.
Dentin: bulk of the tooth beneath enamel and cementum.
Pulp chamber and root canal: spaces housing dental pulp.
Apical foramen: opening near the root apex for nerves and vessels.
The periodontium includes alveolar process, periodontal ligament, cementum, and gingiva. The periodontal ligament suspends the tooth in its socket and cushions occlusal force.
Rounded enamel projection on a newly erupted anterior incisal edge
Cingulum
Cervical-third lingual convexity of an anterior tooth
Cusp
Cone-shaped elevation on canine, premolar, or molar
Marginal ridge
Mesial/distal border of an anterior lingual or posterior occlusal surface
Triangular ridge
Descends from a posterior cusp tip toward the central occlusal area
Transverse ridge
Union of buccal and lingual triangular ridges
Oblique ridge
Maxillary-molar ridge joining distobuccal and mesiolingual cusp anatomy
Do not confuse a developmental groove (union between lobes), supplemental groove (minor branch), fissure (fault in a developmental groove), and pit (pinpoint fault).
Adjacent teeth contact at their greatest proximal contour. Functional wear can broaden a contact point into a contact area. Around the contact are facial, lingual, gingival, and incisal/occlusal embrasures. The gingival embrasure normally accommodates the interdental papilla.
Posterior occlusal-outline shortcuts:
Mandibular premolars: round
Maxillary premolars and mandibular second molar: rectangular/oblong
Mandibular first molar: trapezoidal
Maxillary molars: rhomboidal
¶ 6. Compare teeth instead of memorizing them alone