Dental History Elements

• History taking in dentistry aims to explain general and systemic diseases and their relevance to oral health
• Understanding the properties of relevant medicines and therapeutic agents and their application to patient management is a key outcome.
• Recognizing the importance of recording a comprehensive and contemporaneous patient history is also essential.
• It is beneficial to be able to explore points raised by the patient and investigate further, as well as identify opportunities for intervention
• Determine when to ask open and closed questions

Dental History Elements

• Attendance patterns are significant
• Reasons behind past treatments influence dental decisions
• Financial factors play a role in treatment options
• Past dental experiences shape patient attitudes
• Familial dental experiences can indicate genetic predispositions
• The idea's patient has on their treatment, influencing their expectations
• Past/current oral hygiene routines impact oral health
• Patient's values of their oral health matters
• Patient's past/current diet affects their dental condition
• Friend’s dental experiences can affect patient perception
• Current perceptions of the dental team also matter
• Family dental history can give important clues
• The patient's presenting complaint is crucial
• Changes in dental practice can affect patient care
• Pain history informs diagnosis and treatment

Why Take a Dental History?

• Taking a dental history offers insights into the patient's oral health
• Builds rapport between the dentist and patient
• Provides reassurance to the patient
• Guides the decision-making process for treatment
• It is a medico-legal requirement as part of the notes process

Dental History Questions

• Inquire about treatments received in the last 5 years
• Determine the number of restorations the patient has
• Note any missing teeth
• Identify if the patient has a heavily restored dentition
• Ask about a history of fractured teeth/fillings
• Inquire about sensitivities and their causes
• Assess if the teeth are worn
• Ask if the patient's gums bleed during tooth brushing or spontaneously
• Investigate any particular problems the patient has experienced with past treatments
• Identify any painful or sensitive teeth

Dental Attendee Questions

• Ascertain if the patient has their own GDP (General Dental Practitioner)
• Determine when the patient last visited their GDP
• Find out the time before their last visit
• Check if the dentist advises them on when to return or if they decide themselves
• Determine if they only visit when they have pain
• Determine how often the patient visits their hygienist

Mouthguard Questions

• Enquire whether the patient wears a mouthguard
• Determine the purpose of the mouthguard
• Establish if it was made by a dentist
• Ask how long they have worn it

Orthodontic Treatment Questions

• Ask if the patient has ever had braces
• Identify the type of braces
• Determine how long they wore them
• Enquire when they were removed
• Describe the teeth before braces
• Find out if they are considering braces

Denture Questions

• Ask if they have full or partial dentures
• Determine how long they have been wearing them
• Ascertain why the teeth were removed
• Ask how they care for their dentures
• Determine if they are happy for the dentures to be removed today

Previous Periodontal Rx Questions

• Determine if the patient suffers from gum disease
• Establish how they rate their overall gum health
• Determine if the patient's gums currently bleed
• Determine how long do they bleed for and when
• Enquire if they have ever bled
• Determine how long the bleeding has gone on for
• Ask about any family history of gum problems

Scaling Questions

• Determine scaling with hand instruments or power-driven scalers
• Determine the weeks/ months/ years it has been since the last scaling visit
• Identify if the practitioner was a Hygienist or Dentist
• Determine if it was a specific scaling appointment, for 20 / 30 / 60 minutes
• Number of appointments

LA Questions

• Was LA used due to patient anxiety, sensitivity, deep pockets, or lots of inflammation?

Other Dental Issues Questions

• Find out if the patient is apprehensive about receiving dental care
• If so, are these concerns relate to any particular dental procedure(s) or past experiences?
• Previous issues they have had?
• Any concerns?
• Check for any previous issues they have had
• Check if patient has parafunctional habits

Oral Hygiene History

• Find out about the patient's tooth brushing habits
• Determine how often they brush their teeth
• Determine what they use and how long for
• Find out how often they change their toothbrush [heads]
• Ask if they keep it charged, or let the charge run out?

Toothpaste Information Questions

• What toothpaste is used?
• Does the patient know how much fluoride it has?
• Why does the patient use that toothpaste?
• How much toothpaste is used?
• Does the patient spit or rinse?

Interdental Cleaning Methods

• Determine if the patient uses anything to clean between their teeth and how often.
• Ask how often the patient changes them

Tongue Cleaning Questions

• Determine if the patient cleans their tongue and with what

SOCRATES Questions

• Site: "Where is the pain?", "Can you point to the tooth or area in question?"
• Onset: "When did the pain start?", "Did it come on suddenly or gradually?"
• Character: "How would you describe the pain?" (e.g. achey, sore, throbbing, sharp), "Is the pain constant or does it come and go?"
• Radiation: “Does the pain spread elsewhere?"
• Associations: “Are there any other symptoms that seem associated with the pain?" (e.g. bad taste, fever)
• Time course: “How has the pain changed over time?”
• Exacerbating or relieving factors: “Does anything make the pain better?” (e.g. analgesics), “Does anything make it worse or trigger it?" (e.g. cold, touch, lying down)
• Severity: “On a scale of 0-10, how severe is the pain, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you've ever experienced?"

Final Steps

• Thank the patient at the end of the history-taking.
• Explain what will happen next.