Dental Abbreviations Used in UK Clinical Notes: A–Z Reference
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UK dental clinical notes use a defined set of abbreviations for tooth notation, tooth surfaces, clinical findings, and treatments. This reference covers the full A–Z used in everyday UK practice: the three tooth-numbering systems (Palmer, FDI, Universal), standard surface codes, common clinical and treatment shorthand, and NHS-specific codes.
XLA, TTP, NAD and MOD: quick meanings
- XLA
- Extraction under local anaesthetic. Example note line:
XLA UR8 - TTP
- Tender to percussion. Example note line:
TTP LL6 - NAD
- No abnormality detected. Example note line:
NAD: no soft tissue abnormality, no lymphadenopathy - MOD
- Mesio-occlusal-distal (a three-surface posterior restoration). Example note line:
UR6 MOD composite
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Why UK dental abbreviations matter
Clear, unambiguous abbreviations are a component of safe clinical record-keeping. The FGDP(UK) Clinical Examination and Record Keeping: Good Practice Guidelines (3rd edition, 2016 — now maintained by the College of General Dentistry, CGDent) and the GDC Standards for the Dental Team (2013, Principle 4) both require that clinical records are accurate, legible, and comprehensible to any registered dental professional reading them. An abbreviation that is ambiguous — for example, using "C" to mean both "composite" and "crown" in the same practice — creates a medico-legal risk. Best practice is to use abbreviations that are widely understood in UK dentistry, and to define non-standard abbreviations in a practice-level glossary.
This guide uses Palmer notation as the UK clinical standard and cross-references FDI and Universal notation for overseas-trained dentists. Palmer notation remains the system most commonly taught in UK dental schools and used in everyday general-practice records and referral letters, although the FDI two-digit system is the ISO/WHO international standard and is increasingly used in academic, specialist, and practice-management-software contexts.
The three tooth-numbering systems
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| System | Region of use | Permanent teeth | Upper right first molar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmer | UK, Ireland, some Commonwealth | Quadrant symbol + digit 1–8 | UR6 |
| FDI (ISO) | International; academia; specialist referrals | Two-digit: quadrant (1–4) + tooth (1–8) | 16 |
| Universal | USA primarily | 1–32 (clockwise from UR8) | 3 |
Palmer digit key: 1 = central incisor, 2 = lateral incisor, 3 = canine, 4 = first premolar, 5 = second premolar, 6 = first molar, 7 = second molar, 8 = third molar. Deciduous teeth use letters A–E (A = central incisor … E = second deciduous molar). FDI quadrant key: 1 = upper right, 2 = upper left, 3 = lower left, 4 = lower right (permanent); 5–8 for deciduous. Example: FDI 26 = upper left first molar.
Tooth surface codes
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| Code | Surface | Applies to | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | Mesial | All teeth | MO (mesio-occlusal) |
| D | Distal | All teeth | DO (disto-occlusal) |
| O / Oc | Occlusal | Posterior teeth | MOD (mesio-occlusal-distal) |
| B / Buc | Buccal | All teeth | MOB |
| La / Lab | Labial | Anterior teeth | Used in place of B for incisors/canines |
| L | Lingual | Mandibular and some maxillary teeth | ML (mesio-lingual) |
| Pa / P | Palatal | Maxillary teeth | Used in place of L for upper arch |
| In | Incisal | Anterior teeth | MI (mesio-incisal composite) |
| Ce | Cervical | All teeth | Cervical abrasion/erosion lesion |
Surface codes are combined for multi-surface restorations: MO (mesio-occlusal), MOD (mesio-occlusal-distal, 3 surfaces), MOBD (4 surfaces), MID (mesio-incisal-distal, anterior).
A–Z clinical dental abbreviations
The following abbreviations appear in UK clinical notes, referral letters, and dental charts. Where the same abbreviation is used in different contexts, both meanings are listed.
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| Abbreviation | Full term | Typical context | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6PPC | Six-point pocket chart | Periodontal charting | Only sites of 4 mm and above need recording, though all six sites are probed (BSP, 2019) |
| A | Amalgam | Charting: type of restoration | Avoid standalone where "C" also used — specify material |
| A&E | Accident and Emergency | Referral; emergency escalation | |
| A/N | Acceptable / Not Acceptable | Radiograph quality grading | Two-point scale (A = diagnostically acceptable, N = not acceptable) from PHE/FGDP(UK) Safe Use of X-ray Equipment, 2nd ed (October 2020); replaced the legacy three-point 1/2/3 grading |
| AOB | Anterior open bite | Orthodontic assessment; occlusal charting | |
| ASA | American Society of Anesthesiologists (classification) | Medical history risk stratification | ASA I–VI; used for sedation and anaesthesia risk assessment |
| BG | Blood glucose | Medical history; diabetic patients | |
| BoP / BOP | Bleeding on Probing | Periodontal charting | Record with every 6-point pocket chart (BSP, 2019) |
| BPE | Basic Periodontal Examination | Periodontal record-keeping | Codes 0–4 (with asterisk * to denote furcation involvement); recommended at routine examination — BSP BPE guidance (BSP, 2019) |
| BW | Bitewing (radiograph) | Radiology | Also BWs (bitewings, plural) |
| C | Composite (or Crown — context dependent) | Charting: restoration type | Specify in full if ambiguity possible |
| CAL | Clinical Attachment Level | Periodontal charting | Measured in mm from CEJ to base of pocket |
| CBCT | Cone Beam Computed Tomography | Radiology | Justified under SEDENTEXCT 2012 / FGDP selection criteria |
| CEJ | Cementoenamel Junction | Periodontal / radiographic description | Radiographic reference point for bone level measurement |
| C&B | Crown and Bridge | Prosthodontics | |
| CHX | Chlorhexidine (gluconate) | Prescribing; mouthwash; irrigation | Record the concentration, e.g. "CHX 0.2% mouthwash" |
| C/O | Complains of | History; presenting complaint | e.g. "C/O pain LL6 3/7" |
| CO | Centric Occlusion | Occlusal assessment | Prefer ICP (intercuspal position) or RCP (retruded contact position) |
| DOAC | Direct Oral Anticoagulant | Medical history; pre-surgical assessment | Includes apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban, dabigatran — management per SDCEP 2022 |
| DPT | Dental Panoramic Tomograph | Radiology | Also OPT, OPG — all refer to the full-arch panoramic radiograph |
| Dx | Diagnosis | Clinical record | |
| E | Extraction | Charting: treatment | Also Ext |
| EO | Extra-oral (examination) | Clinical examination record | EO exam precedes IO exam |
| F | Fluoride | Preventive treatment | e.g. "F varnish applied" |
| F/F | Full upper and full lower dentures | Prosthodontics | F/- = full upper only; -/F = full lower only |
| FMX | Full mouth X-rays | Radiology | Full periapical series; uncommon in routine UK general practice |
| FP17 | NHS England dental claim form | NHS administration | Completed at end of course of treatment |
| FP17PR | Practice Record Form — Patient Declaration (NHS England) | NHS administration | Signed by the patient for each NHS course of treatment, including any claim to free or reduced-cost treatment (NHSBSA) |
| FTR | Failed to Return | Appointment records | Documents patient non-attendance; relevant to medico-legal continuity |
| GDP | General Dental Practitioner | Correspondence; referrals | |
| GIC | Glass Ionomer Cement | Restorative materials; cavity lining | |
| GMP | General Medical Practitioner | Correspondence; referral letters | |
| HPC | History of Presenting Complaint | History | Onset, duration, character, aggravating and relieving factors |
| Hx | History | Clinical record | e.g. MHx (medical history), SHx (social history) |
| IANB / IDB | Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block / Inferior Dental Block | Local anaesthesia record | Record side, agent, volume and concentration |
| ICP | Intercuspal Position | Occlusal assessment | Maximum intercuspation; also called MIP |
| IMF | Intermaxillary Fixation | Oral surgery | Post-fracture / orthognathic surgery |
| In | Incisal (surface) | Charting | See Surface Codes table |
| Inf | Infiltration (local anaesthetic) | Local anaesthesia record | e.g. "buccal inf UR6" |
| IO | Intra-oral (examination) | Clinical examination record | |
| Ix | Investigations | Clinical record | e.g. sensibility tests, radiographs |
| LA | Local Anaesthetic | Treatment record | Record the generic name and concentration, estimated dose, and site if not obvious; batch numbers are not required (FGDP(UK) 2016) |
| L | Lingual (surface) | Charting | Used for lower arch; see also Pa (palatal, upper arch) |
| LoA | Loss of Attachment | Periodontal charting | See also CAL |
| MB | Mesiobuccal | Charting; root anatomy | e.g. MB root, MB canal |
| MH | Medical History | Record-keeping | "MH reviewed and unchanged" or "MH updated" |
| MI | Minimum Intervention (dentistry) | Clinical philosophy | Also mesio-incisal (context dependent) |
| MIP | Maximum Intercuspation Position | Occlusal assessment | Preferred term over ICP in some contexts |
| ML | Mesiolingual | Charting; root anatomy | e.g. ML cusp |
| MO | Mesio-occlusal | Surface combination | See Surface Codes table |
| MOD | Mesio-occlusal-distal | Surface combination | 3-surface posterior restoration |
| MRONJ | Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw | Medical history; pre-surgical risk | Associated with bisphosphonates, denosumab, anti-angiogenics |
| MTA | Mineral Trioxide Aggregate | Endodontics; vital pulp therapy | |
| NAD | No Abnormality Detected | Clinical findings | Use with specificity — "NAD: no soft tissue abnormality, no lymphadenopathy" |
| NKA | No Known Allergies | Medical history | |
| NKDA | No Known Drug Allergies | Medical history | More specific than NKA; document separately where relevant |
| NSPT | Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy | Periodontology | Subgingival instrumentation (Step 2 of the BSP/EFP S3 treatment pathway) |
| OB | Overbite | Orthodontic assessment | Vertical overlap of incisors; recorded as mm or % of lower incisor crown |
| OHI | Oral Hygiene Instruction (or Oral Hygiene Index) | Prevention record; periodontal | Specify which meaning; document as "OHI given re: {specific instruction}" |
| OJ | Overjet | Orthodontic assessment | Horizontal overlap of upper over lower incisors, measured in mm |
| OPG | Orthopantomograph | Radiology | Also OPT, DPT |
| OPT | Orthopantomogram | Radiology | The most common UK term for the panoramic radiograph |
| P/- | Partial upper denture | Prosthodontics | -/P = partial lower; P/P = upper and lower partial dentures |
| Pa | Palatal (surface) | Charting | Upper arch equivalent of lingual (L) |
| PA | Periapical (radiograph) | Radiology | PA radiograph = small film/sensor centred on tooth apex |
| PC | Presenting Complaint | History | Record in the patient’s own words where possible |
| PDL | Periodontal Ligament | Radiographic/clinical description | e.g. "widened PDL space" |
| PFM | Porcelain Fused to Metal (crown) | Prosthodontics | Also PBM (porcelain bonded to metal) |
| PMPR | Professional Mechanical Plaque Removal | Periodontology | Term used in SDCEP Prevention and Treatment of Periodontal Diseases in Primary Care (2nd ed, 2024) |
| PPD | Probing Pocket Depth | Periodontal charting | Measured in mm from the gingival margin to the base of the pocket |
| PRR | Preventive Resin Restoration | Restorative; paediatric | |
| PT | Patient (or Pulpotomy) | General; endodontics (paediatric) | Specify; "Pt" is usually patient; "pulpotomy" best written in full |
| RA | Relative Analgesia | Sedation | Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide/oxygen — IACSD-compliant documentation required |
| RCT | Root Canal Treatment | Endodontics | |
| RD | Rubber Dam | Treatment record | Record its use, or why it was not used (e.g. in endodontics) |
| Ref | Referral | Correspondence record | Document date, to whom, reason, and outcome |
| RMGIC | Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Cement | Restorative | |
| RR | Retained Root | Charting; oral surgery | |
| RSD | Root Surface Debridement | Periodontology | Older BSP term; current BSP S3 guidance says "subgingival instrumentation" |
| Rx | Prescription / Treatment plan | General | From Latin recipe; used widely in clinical notes |
| SH | Social History | History | Smoking, alcohol, occupation |
| S&P | Scale and Polish | Periodontics / prevention | Supragingival only; specify whether SRP (supra + subgingival) also carried out |
| SPT / SPC | Supportive Periodontal Therapy / Supportive Periodontal Care | Periodontology | Long-term maintenance after active treatment; SDCEP uses "supportive periodontal care" |
| SRP | Scaling and Root Planing | Periodontology | Sub-gingival; now often recorded as RSD per BSP guidance |
| SS / SSC | Stainless Steel Crown | Paediatric dentistry | |
| TMD | Temporomandibular Disorder | Orofacial pain; examination | |
| TMJ | Temporomandibular Joint | Orofacial pain; examination | |
| TMP / Temp | Temporary | Restoration / crown | e.g. "TMP dressing placed" |
| TTP | Tender to Percussion | Clinical finding | Document tooth number; use percussion test — vertical and lateral |
| Tx | Treatment | General | |
| UDA | Unit of Dental Activity | NHS administration | NHS England contract currency; Band 1 = 1 UDA, Band 3 = 12 UDA. Since 25 November 2022 Band 2 is split: 2a = 3, 2b = 5, 2c = 7 UDA; from 1 April 2026, urgent = £75 ÷ UDA value (2dp), standalone fluoride varnish = 0.5 UDA (SI 2026/265) |
| VAS | Visual Analogue Scale | Pain assessment | A mark on a line (usually 10 cm); for a "7/10" score use NRS (numeric rating scale) |
| Vit | Vital (tooth) | Pulp status | Document pulp vitality test method and result |
| WNL | Within Normal Limits | Clinical findings | Use with specificity — "soft tissues WNL" |
| XLA | Extraction (under Local Anaesthetic) | Treatment record | The most common UK abbreviation for extraction; specify tooth in Palmer notation |
| ZOE | Zinc Oxide Eugenol | Restorative; endodontics | Temporary filling material; sedative dressing |
| ZPC | Zinc Phosphate Cement | Restorative | Luting cement for indirect restorations |
NHS-specific codes and claim abbreviations
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| Abbreviation | Full term | Context |
|---|---|---|
| FP17 | NHS England dental claim form | Submitted at completion of course of treatment |
| FP17PR | Practice Record Form — Patient Declaration | Completed for each NHS course of treatment; the patient signs the declaration, including any claim to free or reduced-cost treatment |
| UDA | Unit of Dental Activity | NHS England contract currency |
| UOA | Unit of Orthodontic Activity | NHS orthodontic contract currency in England. "UOA" is the correct term; "UFC" is not a recognised NHS orthodontic currency |
| Band 1 | NHS treatment band 1 | Examination, radiographs, scale and polish (where clinically necessary); 1 UDA |
| Band 2 | NHS treatment band 2 | Band 1 + fillings, extractions, root canal, denture repairs; 3/5/7 UDA by complexity (Band 2a/2b/2c since 25 November 2022) |
| Band 3 | NHS treatment band 3 | Band 1 + 2 + crowns, bridges, dentures; 12 UDA |
| PDS | Personal Dental Services | NHS dental contract type in England — remains a distinct contract type alongside GDS; not merged into GDS |
| ICB | Integrated Care Board | NHS England regional commissioning body (replaced CCGs, 2022) |
NHS band patient charges (England, from 1 April 2026): Band 1 £27.90 (also the urgent-treatment charge); Band 2 £76.60; Band 3 £332.10. NHS patient charges are uprated every April, so re-confirm against nhs.uk / NHS BSA for the current financial year. No charge applies for exempt groups (e.g. under-18s, under-19s in qualifying full-time education, pregnant or recently postnatal patients). These charges apply in England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own NHS dental charges.
Radiography abbreviations
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| Abbreviation | Full term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PA | Periapical (radiograph) | Small film/sensor; shows apex and surrounding bone |
| BW / BWs | Bitewing(s) | Interproximal caries and alveolar crest bone levels |
| OPT / OPG / DPT | Orthopantomogram / -graph / Dental Panoramic Tomograph | Full-arch panoramic radiograph |
| CBCT | Cone Beam Computed Tomography | 3D imaging; must be justified under SEDENTEXCT 2012 criteria |
| A / N | Acceptable / Not Acceptable | PHE/FGDP 2020 two-point quality scale; document action taken when a grade-N film is retained |
| IR(ME)R (often written IRMER) | Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 | Framework governing dental radiography (in force 6 February 2018); NI has equivalent IR(ME)R 2018 |
A note on non-standard abbreviations
Some practices develop their own local shorthand. This is permissible, provided the practice maintains a written abbreviation glossary available to all clinical staff, locum dentists and dental nurses can interpret records consistently, and abbreviations never create ambiguity about diagnosis or treatment. The GDC Standards for the Dental Team (2013, Principle 4) requires that clinical records be clear, accurate, legible, and comprehensible to any registrant who might need to read them. Ambiguous or unexplained abbreviations that make records uninterpretable are a record-keeping failure.
A structured dental notes app such as Nosht eliminates abbreviation inconsistencies by generating notes from standardised clinical options — every note uses the same terminology, every time, regardless of which clinician is using the system.
Frequently asked questions
What does TTP mean in dentistry?
TTP stands for Tender to Percussion. In UK clinical notes, "TTP" followed by a tooth number (in Palmer notation, e.g. "TTP LL6") means that the tooth was painful when tapped with a dental mirror handle or percussion instrument. TTP is a sign of periapical inflammation or periodontal involvement, and it must be documented as part of a differential diagnosis alongside other pulp/vitality tests.
What does XLA mean in a dental record?
XLA is the standard UK abbreviation for extraction under local anaesthetic. It is formed from "EX-traction" + "LA" (local anaesthetic). In clinical notes you will see it written as "XLA UR8" (extract upper right wisdom tooth under local anaesthetic). Some practices use "E" or "Ext" for extraction without specifying the anaesthetic; XLA is more informative and is the predominant UK abbreviation for planned extractions under local anaesthetic in a dental surgery setting.
What is the difference between Palmer notation and FDI notation?
In Palmer notation — the UK standard — each tooth is identified by its quadrant (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left) plus a digit from 1 to 8 (central incisor to third molar). In FDI notation (the international standard), each tooth is identified by a two-digit number: the first digit is the quadrant (1–4 for permanent teeth), and the second is the tooth number (1–8). The upper right first molar is "UR6" in Palmer and "16" in FDI. Both systems are in use in UK dentistry; Palmer predominates in general practice and clinical notes, while FDI is used in academic and specialist contexts.
What does MOD mean on a dental chart?
MOD stands for Mesio-Occlusal-Distal — a three-surface description of a restoration or cavity. An MOD restoration or preparation involves the mesial surface (facing towards the midline), the occlusal surface (the biting surface), and the distal surface (facing away from the midline) of a posterior tooth. It is one of the most common notation combinations for premolar and molar restorations.
What does BPE stand for in dentistry?
BPE stands for Basic Periodontal Examination. It is the standard screening tool for periodontal disease, recommended at every routine adult dental examination in the UK by the British Society of Periodontology (BSP, 2019). The BPE is recorded as six codes (one per sextant) on a 0–4 scale, with an asterisk (*) added to denote furcation involvement in a sextant. A BPE of 0 means healthy periodontal tissues; a code 4 indicates pocketing of 6 mm or more, which requires full periodontal charting and active management.
What does NKA or NKDA mean in a dental record?
NKA stands for No Known Allergies. NKDA stands for No Known Drug Allergies — a more specific version. In dental records, both appear in the medical history section. NKDA is the more clinically useful term because dental treatment involves specific drug exposures (local anaesthetics, latex, NSAIDs, penicillin). When recording NKDA, it is good practice to document that you specifically asked about local anaesthetic allergy, penicillin allergy, aspirin/NSAID intolerance, and latex sensitivity.
What does UDA stand for in NHS dentistry?
UDA stands for Unit of Dental Activity — the currency used to measure and commission NHS dental treatment in England. Each NHS course of treatment is banded (Band 1, 2, or 3): Band 1 = 1 UDA and Band 3 = 12 UDAs. Since 25 November 2022, Band 2 has been sub-divided by complexity into Band 2a = 3 UDAs, Band 2b = 5 UDAs and Band 2c = 7 UDAs. From 1 April 2026, an urgent course of treatment is worth £75 divided by the UDA monetary value (rounded up to two decimal places) rather than a flat figure, and a standalone fluoride varnish application is its own 0.5-UDA course (SI 2026/265). UDAs are not used in Scotland or Northern Ireland; Wales abolished the UDA system under its reformed dental contract from 1 April 2026 (NHSBSA, Dental Contract Reform in Wales).
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Related articles
- BPE Scoring Guide: Codes 0–4 and the Asterisk — for BPE codes, the asterisk notation, and periodontal charting.
- GDC Dental Records Requirements — what the GDC requires in every record and how abbreviations fit in.
- Dental Notes Examples — compliant clinical notes across common procedures, using UK notation.
Sources
- GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 4: Maintain and protect patients’ information (accessed 18 October 2026)
- CGDent: Clinical Examination and Record-Keeping, Good Practice Guidelines (3rd edition) (accessed 18 October 2026)
- CGDent: Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography (3rd edition) (accessed 18 October 2026)
- The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/1322) (accessed 18 October 2026)
- BSP: The Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE), 2019 (accessed 18 October 2026)
- West N, et al. BSP implementation of European S3-level evidence-based treatment guidelines for stage I–III periodontitis in UK clinical practice. J Dent 2021 (accessed 18 October 2026)
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Nosht Limited makes structured clinical note templates for UK dental professionals. Articles refer to guidance from the GDC, CGDent, BSP, SDCEP and NICE. Check the current version of a source before relying on it.