An important part of a patient’s first appointment to a hygienist is the examination of the head and neck. The registered dental hygienist will be checking to see if these tissues are normal or if there are any conditions requiring further investigation. This includes:
- Extra-oral assessment includes an overall appraisal of the client’s general characteristics and a thorough evaluation of the client’s head, face and neck areas, particularly the skin and associated lymph nodes.
- Intra-oral assessment includes checking the soft tissues of the mouth, hard and soft palate, the throat, the tongue and the gums.