The oral and dental exam

Systematic mouth exam, dental charting and indices, periodontal probing, pulp tests, dental radiographs and oral cancer screening.

7 pages

• Dental charting and the DMFT indexThe dental chart (odontogram) maps every tooth and surface
• Dental imaging: bitewing, periapical, panoramic and CBCTEach dental image answers a different question: decay between teeth, the root tip, the whole…
• Occlusion and malocclusion: Angle classes and when to referOcclusion is how upper and lower teeth meet
• Oral cancer screening: who, what to look for, when to biopsyOral cancer is often found late because it does not hurt at first
• Periodontal probing: pockets, bleeding and attachment lossA thin graduated probe slid gently into the gum groove measures its depth
• Pulp and periapical tests: cold, heat, percussion and palpationSimple bedside tests tell whether the tooth nerve is healthy, inflamed or dead, and whether…
• The systematic oral exam: outside inA full mouth exam takes two minutes with a light, gloves and two tongue depressors

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← Dentistry

Educational content; it does not replace assessment by a dentist or doctor and is not a clinical instruction. For facial or neck swelling with difficulty swallowing or breathing, a knocked-out tooth or bleeding that will not stop, go to an emergency department at once.

Representative model, for educational purposes only.