Identification: FDI dental notation: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Identification: FDI dental notation

Sample item

In the FDI two-digit system used to record teeth in dental identification, which tooth is numbered 36?

APermanent upper left first molarBPermanent lower left second molarCPermanent lower left first molarDPermanent lower right first molar

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Permanent lower left first molar

In the FDI system the first digit is the quadrant (1 upper right, 2 upper left, 3 lower left, 4 lower right for permanent teeth) and the second is the tooth counted from the midline. Tooth 6 is the first molar, so 36 is the lower left first permanent molar.

Option by option

A. Permanent upper left first molar
The upper left first molar is numbered 26.
B. Permanent lower left second molar
The lower left second molar is numbered 37.
C. Permanent lower left first molar (correct)
Correct. Quadrant 3 is lower left and tooth 6 is the first molar.
D. Permanent lower right first molar
The lower right first molar is numbered 46.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Permanent lower left first molar. In the FDI system the first digit is the quadrant (1 upper right, 2 upper left, 3 lower left, 4 lower right for permanent teeth) and the second is the tooth counted from the midline.

Why is "Permanent upper left first molar" not the answer?

The upper left first molar is numbered 26.

Why is "Permanent lower left second molar" not the answer?

The lower left second molar is numbered 37.

Why is "Permanent lower right first molar" not the answer?

The lower right first molar is numbered 46.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification: FDI dental notation in Forensic Medicine. Tooth 6 is the first molar, so 36 is the lower left first permanent molar.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Identification: FDI dental notation?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.