# Tooth 16: Upper Left Third Molar

> In the Universal Numbering System, tooth 16 is the upper left third molar (maxillary left third molar). Its FDI (ISO 3950) designation is 28 and its Palmer designation is 8 in the upper left quadrant. It is a molar in the upper arch with typically 3 roots.

URL: https://dentovio.com/tools/tooth-numbering-chart/tooth-16

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Last verified: 2026-07-08

Neutral tooth-designation reference only; not clinical, diagnostic, or treatment advice. Root counts describe typical permanent-tooth morphology and vary between individuals.

## Direct answer

- Which tooth is number 16? In the Universal Numbering System, tooth 16 is the upper left third molar (maxillary left third molar). Its FDI (ISO 3950) designation is 28 and its Palmer designation is 8 in the upper left quadrant. It is a molar in the upper arch with typically 3 roots.
- Universal number: 16
- FDI / ISO 3950 designation: 28
- Palmer designation: 8 UL
- Plain-language name: Upper Left Third Molar
- Anatomical name: Maxillary Left Third Molar
- Quadrant: Upper Left
- Arch and side: upper, left
- Type: molar
- Typical roots: 3

## Conversion table

| System | Designation |
| --- | --- |
| Universal Numbering System | 16 |
| FDI / ISO 3950 | 28 |
| Palmer notation | 8 UL |
| Tooth name | Upper Left Third Molar |

## Note

Commonly called the wisdom tooth.

## Search terms

- which tooth is number 16?
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- upper left third molar
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- fdi 28
- palmer 8
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- upper left molar

## Sources

- `TOOTH-1` American Dental Association — Universal Numbering System. <https://www.ada.org/publications/ada-news/2020/november/how-to-count-teeth-numbering-systems>
- `TOOTH-2` ISO 3950:2016 — Dentistry, designation system for teeth and areas of the oral cavity (FDI two-digit). <https://www.iso.org/standard/68292.html>
- `TOOTH-3` FDI World Dental Federation — two-digit notation. <https://www.fdiworlddental.org/>

## Related

- [Full tooth numbering chart](https://dentovio.com/tools/tooth-numbering-chart/index.html.md)
- [FDI to Universal converter](https://dentovio.com/tools/fdi-to-universal-converter/index.html.md)
- [Palmer notation converter](https://dentovio.com/tools/palmer-notation-converter/index.html.md)
- [Previous tooth: Tooth 15: Upper Left Second Molar](https://dentovio.com/tools/tooth-numbering-chart/tooth-15/index.html.md)
- [Next tooth: Tooth 17: Lower Left Third Molar](https://dentovio.com/tools/tooth-numbering-chart/tooth-17/index.html.md)