Oral Inspection Flashcards
When does the overall appraisal of a patient begin?
When they are first greeted in the waiting room
*observe gait, speech, hygiene, overall appearance
What does WNL mean
within normal limits
*if nothing significant found, this should be put in the notes under that condition
Why do we look for symmetry during the overall appraisal?
disease and conditions may manifest physical asymmetry
Sign vs Symptom
sign: seen visually, can be measured (temp, lesions, rash)
symptom: felt by the patient and is subjective (pain, discomfort, nausea)
List the types of palpation used during the oral inspection
-digital
-bidigital
-bimanual
-bilateral
-circular compressions
Appraisal of the lips
bidigital palpation
Floor of the mouth
bimanual palpation
Lymph nodes (neck)
bilateral palpation
Oral carcinoma affects which type of tissue
epithelium
Oral sarcoma affects which type of tissue
connective tissues
excisional biopsy
biopsy involving area surrounding a lesion
incisional biopsy
biopsy into the lesion itself
List the lesion warning signs
-doesn’t heal
-white scaly area
-swelling
-repeated bleeding
-numbness/loss of feeling
List the major salivary glands
-parotid (serous secretions)
-submandibular (mucous and serous secretions)
-sublingual (mucous secretions)
List the instruments used during the oral inspection
-mirror
-probe
-explorer
-2X2 gauze
-cotton forceps
-lighting
