Procedure for Performing Extraoral and Intraoral Examinations

It is important for the dental professional to review the patient record including the dental and medical histories, examine radiographs or other laboratory records, and explain the assessment procedure before proceeding with the actual examination. Establishing an examination sequence and following it systematically during examination reduces the possibility of overlooking any areas during the examination.

Ask the patient to remove neck-related clothing, glasses, dentures, or appliances before examinations. Inquire about the history of any lesions if it presents during general evaluation and whether any discomfort occurs during the examinations if patient appears distressed.

Following the observation of atypical or abnormal findings, the dental professional needs to describe and document them accurately in the patient record. Precise descriptive terms enable the dental professional to communicate with other dental and healthcare professionals to help with an accurate differential diagnosis. See related textbooks in oral pathology for further discussion as listed in Appendix A.