Root canal on tooth 5
What it involves. Root canal treatment removes inflamed or infected pulp from inside the tooth, then cleans, disinfects, fills and seals it. It can usually be done in one or two visits, and the tooth is then restored with a crown or filling.
Usually two canals. A review of 11,299 upper first premolars found 2 roots in 56.6% and 1 root in 41.7%. Either way, 86.6% had 2 root canals.
Its twin is often a match. In a CBCT study of upper premolars, the number of roots and canals was the same on the left and right sides in about 80% of first premolar pairs.
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).
The same tooth on the left side, tooth 12, has its own section on removal for braces and cracked roots.
Where is tooth 5?
Tooth 5 is in your upper jaw on your right side. It is the fourth tooth from the middle: start at the gap between the two top front teeth and count 4 teeth toward the back on your right side.
In a mirror, tooth 5 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 6, the upper right canine. Behind it is tooth 4, the upper right second premolar.
Its mirror twin on the left side is tooth 12. The tooth in the same spot in the lower jaw is tooth 28, the lower right first premolar.
Dental charts show the patient's right side on the left, so tooth 5 sits on the left half of the top row. Universal numbers start here: upper right teeth run from 1 (the wisdom tooth) to 8 (the front tooth).
What does the upper first premolar do?
Premolars (also called bicuspids) sit between the canines and the molars and help crush and grind food. They have features of both their neighbors. Each upper premolar has two cusps (points), one on the cheek side and one on the tongue side.
It is also called the "first bicuspid".
Adult premolars replace the baby molars. There are no premolars among the 20 baby teeth.
How many roots does tooth 5 have?
Usually 2 roots, one on the cheek side and one on the palate side. It is the premolar that most often has two roots.
When does tooth 5 come in?
Both the ADA and AAPD charts give 10–11 years for the upper first premolars.
Tooth 5 replaces the upper right baby first molar (tooth B), which usually falls out at 9–11 years (ADA).
In the ADA chart, they usually come in after the lower canines (9–10 years) and before the upper second premolars (10–12 years). In the AAPD's 13-step order, from the first molars (step 1) to the wisdom teeth (step 13), they are step 7.
Under the gum, according to the AAPD chart, it starts to harden (calcify) at about 18–24 months, has a finished crown by 5–6 years and has a finished root by about 12–13 years, a few years after it comes into the mouth.
Common problems with upper first premolars
- Cavities and cracks. Small cavities are fixed with a filling. If decay or an injury reaches the nerve, root canal treatment can save the tooth, often followed by a crown.
If tooth 5 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.
Tooth 5 in FDI and Palmer notation
| System | Tooth 5 is written | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Universal (ADA, used in the US) | 5 | Adult teeth are numbered 1–32 around the mouth, starting at the upper right wisdom tooth. |
| FDI / ISO 3950 (international) | 14 | First digit 1 = upper right quarter; second digit 4 = fourth tooth from the middle. Said "one-four". |
| Palmer | 4┘ (often typed UR4) | The ┘ bracket marks the upper right quarter; 4 = fourth tooth from the middle. |
A lone "5" can only be Universal. FDI codes always have two digits, so 5 on its own is never an FDI number.
On a US chart, "14" is a different tooth. Universal 14 is the upper left first molar (tooth 14), so "tooth 14" only means this tooth when the chart uses FDI.
Palmer needs the bracket. Every quarter of the mouth has a tooth 4 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 (this tooth) |
| 4 | 15 | 5┘ (UR5) | Second premolar |
| 3 | 16 | 6┘ (UR6) | First molar |
| 2 | 17 | 7┘ (UR7) | Second molar |
| 1 | 18 | 8┘ (UR8) | Wisdom tooth |
The Tooth Number Chart & Converter converts any tooth between the three systems.
Tools for tooth 5
- Dental Emergency Checker: how soon to see a dentist if it hurts or breaks.
- Dental Numbness Calculator: how long numbness lasts after a filling.
- Dental Insurance Calculator: what your plan may pay for a crown or root canal.
- Adult Teeth Predictor: likely dates for your child's adult teeth.
- How Long Does Dental Work Last?: how long fillings, crowns, veneers and implants usually last, from long-term studies.
- Dental Treatment Plan Decoder: plain English for treatment-plan shorthand like "#30 MOD comp".
Frequently asked questions
What tooth is number 5?
Is tooth 5 the same as tooth 14?
At what age does tooth 5 come in?
How many canals does tooth 5 have?
Sources
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Permanent Tooth Development (eruption chart). 2012. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Primary Tooth Development (eruption chart). 2012. 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.
- Dentalcare.com (continuing education course CE500). An Overview of Dental Anatomy: Permanent Dentition. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Cleveland Clinic. Teeth: Anatomy, Types, Function & Care. last updated January 26, 2023. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- American Association of Endodontists. What is a Root Canal?. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Ahmad IA, Alenezi MA. Journal of Endodontics 42(6):861–872. Root and Root Canal Morphology of Maxillary First Premolars: A Literature Review and Clinical Considerations. 2016. 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.
- Li YH et al. Archives of Oral Biology 94:84–92. Symmetry of root anatomy and root canal morphology in maxillary premolars analyzed using cone-beam computed tomography. 2018. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Last reviewed by the Dental Health Time editorial team, against the sources above. How we review.