The FDI odontogram
Understand the FDI tooth-numbering system used to identify and track tooth procedures.
What is the FDI odontogram?
The FDI (Fédération Dentaire Internationale) odontogram is the international tooth-numbering system used in modern dentistry. It provides a standardized way to identify, document, and refer to specific teeth in the mouth. Each tooth receives a unique two-digit number based on its quadrant (section of the mouth) and position.
Why it matters
In clinical practice, the FDI system ensures that all team members—dentists, hygienists, and billing staff—refer to the same tooth using the same number. This eliminates confusion, reduces documentation errors, and makes it easy to link procedures (fillings, extractions, crowns) to the exact teeth they affect. When procedures are linked to specific teeth, billing becomes accurate and the patient record is complete.
How it works in Usystems
In Usystems, the FDI odontogram appears in the dental case template as an interactive grid showing all 32 adult teeth. The grid is divided into four quadrants (upper-left, upper-right, lower-left, lower-right), each containing eight teeth numbered 1–8 from the center outward.
The numbering scheme:
- Quadrant 1 (upper-right): teeth numbered 11–18
- Quadrant 2 (upper-left): teeth numbered 21–28
- Quadrant 3 (lower-left): teeth numbered 31–38
- Quadrant 4 (lower-right): teeth numbered 41–48
Each tooth number is two digits: the first digit = quadrant, the second digit = position. For example, tooth 14 is in the upper-right quadrant, position 4 from the center.
When you click or tap a tooth on the odontogram, you can select it to link procedures or record findings. The system records which teeth are involved in treatment, making it easy to bill correctly and refer to the right teeth in notes.
Where you see it
You see the FDI odontogram when you create or edit a dental case in the patient's medical record.
Go to Medical Cases → Create New Case and choose Dental as the specialty. Open in Usystems
The odontogram grid appears in the case template, allowing you to click teeth and link procedures to them.
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