Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Diagnosis Overview

The length of time pain has been present.

The specific area where the patient feels pain.

When pain spreads to other areas.

Describes the quality of pain (sharp, dull, throbbing).

Pain that occurs at specific times, like during meals or at night.

Factors that make pain worse, such as hot or cold food.

Factors that relieve pain, like certain medications.

Symptoms that accompany pain, like fever or fatigue.

The process of gathering information about a patient's medical, dental, and personal history to aid in diagnosis and treatment.

Subjective complaints reported by the patient, such as pain, numbness, or discomfort.

Objective signs of disease that are observable by the clinician, such as swelling, redness, or ulcers.

The art of using scientific knowledge to identify oral diseases and differentiate them from other conditions.

The first step in the diagnostic process, where the clinician gathers information about the patient's medical history, dental history, and current symptoms.

The collection of information from a patient that helps to understand their medical and dental background, including past illnesses, medications, and previous treatments.

The information gathered from a patient about their current symptoms and concerns, which helps the clinician pinpoint the cause of their problem.

A careful and systematic examination of the patient's mouth and associated structures to detect any abnormalities or signs of disease.

Asking about the presence of other symptoms like swelling, discharge, or numbness can help determine the cause of pain.

Knowing the patient's medical history helps diagnose pain, especially if it's associated with past conditions like migraines, chronic stress, or heart problems.

Asking about the patient's understanding of the pain's cause can reveal valuable insights into their perception and interpretation of the problem.

Asking about the duration, growth, and symptoms of a lump helps determine its nature, potential cause, and severity.

Knowing if the patient has a history of dental procedures, complications, and radiographs can help the oral surgeon plan appropriate treatments and avoid risks.

Medical history review helps diagnose oral manifestations related to systemic diseases and adjust the treatment plan to account for underlying conditions.

Knowing medical history and current illnesses is crucial for diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.

The patient's medical history can be used to identify potential systemic conditions with possible oral manifestations, like AIDS or Leukemia.

A physical examination method using visual observation to identify abnormalities like swelling, color changes, or asymmetry.

Examining by applying light pressure with the fingers or an instrument to assess tenderness, lumps, swelling, or teeth mobility.

A technique of tapping on a body part to assess the underlying tissue density and detect abnormalities based on the sound produced.

Using an instrument (like a probe) to explore a cavity or structure.

A physical examination method using a stethoscope to listen to the patient's internal sounds, such as heart rate or breathing.

Evaluates overall patient health before focusing on specific areas. It involves examining posture, gait, facial form, nutrition status, speech, movement, skin, hair, and vital signs like temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and respiration.

Examining the head and neck region to assess the temporomandibular joint, lymph nodes, salivary glands, bones of the skull, sinuses, ear, eye, and perioral tissues.

Examining the neck for signs of enlarged thyroid gland, lymph nodes, and swellings.

A method of examining the body by tapping on different regions to assess underlying structures. In dentistry, it can be used to detect tenderness in sinuses and pain in teeth.

The process of listening to sounds within the body using a stethoscope. In dentistry, it's rarely used but can be helpful in evaluating the temporomandibular joint.

The examination of the patient's overall appearance, including posture, gait, facial features, nutritional status, habits, speech, skin, hair, and nails.

Examination of the head to assess the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), lymph nodes, salivary glands, bones of the skull, sinuses, ears, eyes, and peri-oral tissues.

Examination of the neck to assess the thyroid gland, lymph nodes, other midline structures, and muscles.

The process of feeling or touching different parts of the body to detect abnormalities. It's a key component of the physical examination and helps assess the texture, size, and tenderness of tissues.

A condition where the eyes bulge outwards. This can indicate various disorders, including thyroid problems.

A condition where the conjunctiva (the membrane covering the white part of the eye) appears pale, commonly indicating anemia.

The width of the patient's mouth opening, usually measured in terms of how many fingers can fit.

Assesses the overall cleanliness of the mouth, ranging from "good" to "very poor."

Visual examination of the tongue's underside, sides, and top for any abnormalities like cracks, sores, or bumps.

Checking the gums for any swelling, color changes, or unusual growths.

This involves examining the teeth for missing ones, any damage, loose teeth, cavities, and their overall health.

The way your upper and lower teeth fit together when your mouth is closed, categorized as Class I (normal), Class II (overbite), or Class III (underbite).

X-rays used to help diagnose and monitor oral problems, particularly those involving hidden areas like bone.

A procedure where a small sample of tissue is taken for microscopic analysis to help diagnose conditions.