Removing tooth 1
Removal or watching. Removal may be advised when a wisdom tooth doesn't have room to come through fully and causes problems. One that causes no trouble is usually left in place and checked at routine visits.
Usually simpler than a lower one. A review notes that upper wisdom teeth are generally less difficult to take out than lower ones, with low complication rates. Possible problems include an opening into the sinus (oroantral communication), the tooth slipping into nearby spaces, and a break in the bone behind it.
Dry socket is less likely. Dry socket happens mainly after lower molars are removed, usually wisdom teeth.
The same tooth on the left side, tooth 16, has its own section on whether the tooth forms and comes through.
Where is tooth 1?
Tooth 1 is the very last tooth at the back of your upper jaw on your right side: the eighth tooth from the middle, behind the 12-year molar. Some wisdom teeth never fully come through, and some people never develop this tooth at all.
In a mirror, tooth 1 shows on the right side of your reflection. Someone looking into your mouth sees it on their left.
In front of it (toward the middle) is tooth 2, the upper right second molar. No tooth sits behind it.
Its mirror twin on the left side is tooth 16. The tooth in the same spot in the lower jaw is tooth 32, the lower right wisdom tooth.
Dental charts show the patient's right side on the left, so tooth 1 sits at the far left end of the top row. Universal numbers start here: upper right teeth run from 1 (the wisdom tooth) to 8 (the front tooth).
Common problems with upper wisdom teeth
- Sinus link. The roots of upper back teeth can reach up into the maxillary sinus, with only a thin layer of tissue between them. Because of that, a long-lasting infection at the root tip can sometimes spread into the sinus (odontogenic sinusitis).
If tooth 1 hurts, feels loose, or the gum around it swells, the Dental Emergency Checker can help you decide how soon to see a dentist. Swelling that spreads to the eye or neck, or makes it hard to breathe or swallow, is an emergency: call 911. These are typical problems for this kind of tooth, not a diagnosis.
When does tooth 1 come in?
The upper wisdom teeth usually come in at 17–21 years according to the ADA chart. The AAPD chart gives 17–30 years.
The NHS says wisdom teeth usually start coming through in the teens or early 20s. By age 21, all 32 adult teeth have usually come in (ADA), though some wisdom teeth never fully come through.
In the ADA chart, they are among the last to come in, along with the lower wisdom teeth. In the AAPD's 13-step order, from the first molars (step 1) to the wisdom teeth (step 13), they are step 13.
Under the gum, according to the AAPD chart, it starts to harden (calcify) at about 7–9 years of age.
How many roots does tooth 1 have?
Often a single, cone-shaped root formed by fused roots. When the roots stay separate, there are usually three.
What does a wisdom tooth do?
Wisdom teeth are third molars. When they come in straight and have room, they chew like any other molar. Some people never develop some or all of their wisdom teeth, and the ones that do form vary in size and shape.
Tooth 1 in FDI and Palmer notation
| System | Tooth 1 is written | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Universal (ADA, used in the US) | 1 | Adult teeth are numbered 1–32 around the mouth, starting at the upper right wisdom tooth. |
| FDI / ISO 3950 (international) | 18 | First digit 1 = upper right quarter; second digit 8 = eighth tooth from the middle. Said "one-eight". |
| Palmer | 8┘ (often typed UR8) | The ┘ bracket marks the upper right quarter; 8 = eighth tooth from the middle. |
A lone "1" can only be Universal. FDI codes always have two digits, so 1 on its own is never an FDI number.
On a US chart, "18" is a different tooth. Universal 18 is the lower left second molar (tooth 18), so "tooth 18" only means this tooth when the chart uses FDI.
Palmer needs the bracket. Every quarter of the mouth has a tooth 8 in Palmer notation; only the ┘ (or the letters UR) makes it this one.
All adult teeth in the upper right quarter
From the front of the mouth to the back:
| Universal | FDI | Palmer | Tooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 11 | 1┘ (UR1) | Central incisor |
| 7 | 12 | 2┘ (UR2) | Lateral incisor |
| 6 | 13 | 3┘ (UR3) | Canine |
| 5 | 14 | 4┘ (UR4) | First premolar |
| 4 | 15 | 5┘ (UR5) | Second premolar |
| 3 | 16 | 6┘ (UR6) | First molar |
| 2 | 17 | 7┘ (UR7) | Second molar |
| 1 | 18 | 8┘ (UR8) | Wisdom tooth (this tooth) |
The Tooth Number Chart & Converter converts any tooth between the three systems.
Tools for tooth 1
- Wisdom Teeth & Extraction tools: recovery, dry socket and aftercare tools.
- Wisdom Teeth Recovery Tracker: day-by-day healing after removal.
- Dry Socket Checker: symptoms vs normal healing; dry socket is less common after upper teeth.
- When Can I…? After a Tooth Extraction: when you can eat, use a straw or exercise.
- Dental Emergency Checker: how soon to see a dentist if it hurts or breaks.
- Dental Treatment Plan Decoder: plain English for treatment-plan shorthand like "#30 MOD comp".
Frequently asked questions
What tooth is number 1?
Is tooth 1 the same as tooth 18?
Does everyone have tooth 1?
Is tooth 1 easier to remove than a lower wisdom tooth?
Sources
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Permanent Tooth Development (eruption chart). 2012. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Eruption Charts. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dental Growth and Development (chronology after Logan & Kronfeld 1933, adapted 2003). Accessed October 26, 2026.
- World Health Organization. Oral health surveys: basic methods, 5th edition (tooth notation after ISO 3950). 2013. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Nelson SJ. Elsevier. Wheeler's Dental Anatomy, Physiology and Occlusion, 11th edition. 2019.
- American Dental Association. ADA Dental Claim Form (tooth designation systems). Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Dentalcare.com (continuing education course CE500). An Overview of Dental Anatomy: Types of Teeth and their Functions. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- NHS (UK). Wisdom tooth removal. page reviewed 12 June 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Merck Manual Professional Edition. Postextraction Problems. full review August 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Carter K, Worthington S. Journal of Dental Research 94(7):886–894. Morphologic and Demographic Predictors of Third Molar Agenesis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. 2015. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Ordinola-Zapata R, Azevedo B, Tataryn RW, Versiani MA. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America 57(6):927–939. Maxillary Dental Anatomy and Physiology: Endodontic and Periodontal. 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Lewusz-Butkiewicz K, Kaczor K, Nowicka A. Dental and Medical Problems 55(1):69–74. Risk factors in oroantral communication while extracting the upper third molar: Systematic review. 2018. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Last reviewed by the Dental Health Time editorial team, against the sources above. How we review.