Page 131 - My FlipBook

EXAMINATION OF THE PATIENT
99

making the examination should be adopted and regularly
followed. The author recommends the following method:
1. General Physical Inspection.—Note the carriage, general

bearing and physical appearance, complexion, color of lips,
hair, nails and eyes; general health; condition of pulse if
desirable; manner of speech; inquire for presence or absence
of pain.
2. Examination of the Soft Tissues of the Mouth.—Note the
color and condition of the mucous membrane of lips, cheeks

and gums; presence or absence of swellings, tenderness or
abscess tracts; general hygienic condition, as far as deposits
are concerned; condition of tongue, whether coated or furred.
The X-ray is a valuable adjunct in later detecting and diagnos-
ing obscure conditions.

3. Lower Teeth.—Start at the third molar on the left side
and examine the buccal, occlusal and lingual surfaces, in the
order mentioned, of each tooth separately, coming forward
to the median line. Repeat the procedure on the right side.

Then examine the approximal surfaces in the same order.
4. Upper Teeth.—Follow the same course.
It may now be seen that the examination of patients
applying for dental attention should not be the cursory
procedure frequently observed by many practitioners. Rec-

ognition of the existence of oral foci of infection and their
far-reaching influence on the health and well-being of the
entire organism, as well as increasing knowledge of many
vague manifestations of reflex disturbances, associated with
oral pathological conditions, have become of such importance

in their bearing on the practice of dentistry, that it is difflcult
to foretell what is to be the future status of the profession.
The author, whose private practice consists largely in the
diagnosis and treatment of referred patients, suffering with

disturbances of a vague nature, now makes an extremely