Introduction Flashcards
What site of the tongue is commonly affected by intraoral lesions?
Lateral surface of the tongue is a common location for lesions.
What clues can give a good idea of what a lesion is for diagnosis?
Location of lesion is key, there are high risk areas.
Aggravating and relieving factors are important for understanding lesion diagnosis
Medication response
What is the history taking important for?
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
What body systems should be noted when investigating medical history for oral lesions?
Cardiovascular disease
Respiratory disease
CNS disease
Skin disease
GIT disease
Liver disease
Endocrine disorders
Disorders of these systems have many intraoral manifestations.
What should be noted in medical history when prescribing medications?
Care for patient DDIs and allergies
What social history factors should be noted when taking history?
Single/married
Attitudes to medical treatment
Socioeconomic status
Overseas travel
Sexual history
Occupation
Life stressors
What should be considered when performing a patient examination?
Vital signs (Conscious state, temperature, pulse, BP, respiration)
Other signs (Weight, hands, skin)
What should be considered during the intraoral examination?
Lips: Changes in colour, scaling, ulceration, definition of the border between the lips and the surrounding skin. The mucocutaneous border. In solar chelitis the border is not clearly defined.
Examine the mucosa, the gingiva, the tongue, and the teeth.
Tongue is a high risk site of oral cancer. Especially on the lateral border of the tongue, ventral border of the tongue, and the floor of the mouth.
Floor of the mouth discolouration needs to be palpated.
What should be considered in the extraoral examination?
Extraoral head and neck examination (Swellings, pallor, Rashes)
Eyes
Neck (lymph nodes)
TMJ and muscles of mastication (Facial asymmetry, mandibular opening and closing paths, mandibular opening extent)
Salivary glands (Symmetry, evidence of enlargement)
Should dentures be present in the mouth during dental examination?
No and it is negligent to leave them inside. This is because mucosal lesions could potentially be entirely left in the mouth.
How is the floor of the mouth palpated?
The head is supported from the outside and then palpated
How should erythroplakia be treated?
Patients with red patches if they smoke and alcohol habits should be biopsied. If they don’t smoke or drink it should just be watched.
