O — Occlusal: The tooth biting surface of the molar and premolar teeth. I — Incisal — the biting edge of the incisal and canine teeth. The letters refer to the surfaces of the teeth. M is mesial and means the surface of the tooth closest to the midline of the body.
D is distal, and that is the surface furthest from the midline of the body. O is the occlusal or bite surface; B is buccal, or the surface closest to the cheek, and P and L represent palatine and lingual, the surfaces closest to the palate in the upper jaw and to the tongue in the lower jaw. dentists measure this distance in millimeters. As a patient, you'll want to hear a smaller number.
This means that you have a smaller space between the tooth and the gum, a sign of a healthy mouth. A higher number indicates that you have gum problems, such as plaque and tartar buildup.
