history taking

Question 1

what % of diagnosis’ does the history give?

Answer 1

75%

Question 2

what is the order of history taking categories?

Answer 2

CO
HPC
PMH
PDH
SH

Question 3

what is CO?

Answer 3

complaining of

Question 4

what is HPC?

Answer 4

history of present complaint

Question 5

what is PMH?

Answer 5

past medical history

Question 6

what is PDH?

Answer 6

past dental history

Question 7

what is SH?

Answer 7

social history

Question 8

how is complaining of asked?

Answer 8

ask patient to describe the problem/ symptoms in their own words

Question 9

what is ‘toothache on lower jaw’ an example of?

Answer 9

CO

Question 10

how is HPC asked?

Answer 10

Ask the patient to:

Describe the problem
Duration of the problem
Severity of the problem
Exacerbating or relieving factors
SOCRATES

Question 11

what does SOCRATES stand for and when can it be used?

Answer 11

site
onset
character
radiation
associations
time course
exacerbating
severity
- used in HPC

Question 12

what is ‘does the pain follow any pattern’ an example of?

Answer 12

HPC

Question 13

how is PMH asked?

Answer 13

structured questions

Question 14

how is PDH asked?

Answer 14

patients attitude to dentistry:
Are you a regular attender at your dentist?
When was your last visit?
What treatment did you have at your last dental visit?
Have you had any problems with dental treatment in the past?
How do they feel about coming to the dentist?
past dental experiences:
What sort of treatment they had previously and under what conditions?
What types of treatment has the patient undergone e.g. fillings, extractions, etc?

Question 15

what are examples of social history?

Answer 15

tobacco and alcohol consumption
work
stress
caring for a sick partner
living alone
wind instrument players

Question 16

what is important for dentists involving diabetic patients?

Answer 16

The timing of appointments in relation to dietary control of condition may be important (risk of hypoglycaemia)

Healing of lesions in the mouth is likely to be slow.

Periodontal tissues will require special care where natural teeth are present.

Question 17

what is important for dentists surrounding allergies?

Answer 17

This will alert the operator to possible abnormal reactions to materials or drugs which may be used in treatment.
Some patients can be allergic to Latex, acrylic, Co-Cr,…etc. so latex free products would need to be used for example

Question 18

what is important for dentists surrounding epilepsy?

Answer 18

Try to avoid removable options if possible.

Denture design should provide excellent retention and stability so it will not present an additional hazard to the patient.

Question 19

what are examples of must know facts in PMH?

Answer 19

• diabetes
• allergies
• drugs taken
• epilepsy
• antidepressants
• aspirin

Question 20

what is the effect of antidepressants on the mouth?

Answer 20

dryness

Question 21

what is the effect of aspirin on the oral cavity?

Answer 21

non-soluble aspirin can cause ulceration

Question 22

what should the dentist use regularly to check drug overlaps etc.?

Answer 22

BNF (british national formulary)

Question 23

what are the steps taken in a full diagnosis?

Answer 23

History
Examination
Provisional Diagnoses
Special tests (diagnostic tests)
Definitive Diagnoses
Treatment

Question 24

what type of questions should be asked first and then later on during a dental history?

Answer 24

open first then closed when specifics are needed

Question 25

when should new medical history be asked?

Answer 25

- every new patient - existing history is illegible - patient not attended in over a year - more than two years since a full history was taken

Question 26

when is a new full history required to be taken?

Answer 26

- if a patient has changed medication or has had medical intervention since the last visit

Question 27

what should be looked out for when meeting the patient for the first time?

Answer 27

- activity - appearance - breathing - colour - disability