Anatomic Dental Charting Symbols and Restorations

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering dental charting classifications, direct and indirect restorations, endodontic conditions, prosthodontics, and miscellaneous charting symbols.

Dental Charting Color Codes

The standard charting system where required treatment or dental caries is recorded in red (composite outlined in red, amalgam coloured in red), and existing or completed work is recorded in blue or black (composite outlined in blue/black, amalgam coloured in blue/black).

Class I Caries/Restoration

Decay or direct restorations situated on the occlusal surfaces of molars and premolars, in the buccal or lingual pits or grooves of molars, or in the lingual pits of maxillary incisors.

Class II Caries/Restoration

Decay or direct restorations involving the proximal surfaces (mesial or distal) of molars and premolars (e.g., MO, MOD, MOB).

Class III Caries/Restoration

Decay or direct restorations located on the proximal surfaces of anterior teeth that do not involve the incisal edge (e.g., M, ML, DLV).

Class IV Caries/Restoration

Decay or direct restorations located on the proximal surfaces of anterior teeth that involve the incisal edge (e.g., MIDLV, DILV).

Class V Caries/Restoration

Decay or direct restorations situated in the gingival one-third on the facial (buccal) or lingual surfaces of any tooth.

Class VI Caries/Restoration

Decay or direct restorations located on the incisal edges of anterior teeth or the cusp tips of posterior teeth resulting from wear or developmental defects.

Temporary Restorations (ZOE)

Provisional restorations most commonly fabricated from Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE); charted with a letter "Z" placed just beyond the root tips of the facial surface.

Recurrent Caries

New decay forming underneath or around an existing restoration; charted by outlining the existing restoration in red, which is subsequently colored over with blue or black once replaced.

Missing Tooth

A tooth that is absent from the dentition, previously extracted at another dental office, or congenitally missing; charted under existing conditions using a single consistent symbol, with no symbol for required work.

Impacted / Unerupted Tooth

A tooth prevented from fully emerging or not yet erupted, whose treatment plan may include surgical extraction; recorded in red under required work, with no symbol used for existing status.

Extraction

The removal of a tooth; charted in red when required to be completed and charted in blue or black when completed in the treating dental office.

Periapical Abscess

A localized infection at the apex of a single-rooted or multi-rooted tooth; charted in red under required work (potential treatment includes root canal therapy), with no symbol for existing status.

Root Canal Therapy (RCT)

Endodontic treatment extending through the pulp canal(s) of a single-rooted or multi-rooted tooth; charted in red if required and in blue or black if existing/completed.

Dental Implant

A prosthetic device placed into bone to replace a single-rooted or multi-rooted tooth; charted in red when required and in blue or black when existing or completed.

Post & Core

An endodontic foundation restoration placed directly into the canal of an endodontically treated tooth extending into the crown to retain a final restoration; charted in red if required and blue or black if completed.

Porcelain Crown

An all-ceramic full-coverage crown charted by outlining all anatomic surfaces of the tooth.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crown

A tooth-colored crown restoration charted by outlining all tooth surfaces with diagonal lines placed on the lingual surface to indicate the metal/gold backing.

Stainless Steel Crown

A preformed full metal crown charted by outlining all tooth surfaces and labeling "SS" on the occlusal surface.

Gold Crown

A full-coverage cast metal restoration charted by outlining all tooth surfaces and drawing diagonal lines across all surfaces to indicate gold.

3/4 Gold Crown

A cast metal partial restoration that covers all anatomical surfaces with diagonal lines except for the facial surface, which remains uncovered.

Inlay

A custom cast metal (gold) or porcelain indirect restoration resembling a Class II restoration that fits within the tooth contours without covering any cusps.

Onlay

A multi-surface indirect restoration made of gold or porcelain that covers at least one cusp and extends onto the buccal and/or lingual surfaces.

Bridge

A fixed indirect prosthetic appliance charted by drawing an "X" through the root(s) of missing pontic teeth, drawing connecting lines between abutment retainers, and applying outline/diagonal lines depending on material (porcelain, PFM, or gold).

Veneer

A thin layer of porcelain or composite resin bonded exclusively to the facial surface of an anterior tooth.

Pit and Fissure Sealant

A protective resin coating charted by placing a letter "S" directly on the occlusal surface (recorded in red if required, blue/black if existing).

Diastema

A space or gap between two adjacent teeth; charted with two vertical parallel lines between the teeth (treatment options include veneers, orthodontics, or a frenectomy).

Drifted Tooth

The migration of a tooth mesially or distally (frequently caused by a missing adjacent tooth); charted with a straight arrow placed just beyond the facial surface at the root apices indicating direction.

Rotated Tooth

A tooth that has twisted out of its normal anatomical alignment mesially or distally; charted with a curved arrow placed just beyond the facial surface at the root apices indicating direction of rotation.

Lingual Retainer

A fixed orthodontic wire appliance charted as a continuous horizontal line along the lingual surfaces of the teeth involved.

Complete Denture (CUD / CLD)

A removable prosthetic appliance that replaces all teeth within an arch for a completely edentulous patient; abbreviated as CUD (Complete Upper Denture) or CLD (Complete Lower Denture).

Partial Denture (PUD / PLD)

A removable prosthetic appliance that replaces one or more missing teeth in an arch for a partially edentulous patient; abbreviated as PUD (Partial Upper Denture) or PLD (Partial Lower Denture).