A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic and therapeutic steps.
Extraoral examination
- Inspection
- Facial asymmetries
- Soft tissue swelling
- Fistulas
- Skin florescences
- Abnormal findings on the eye
- Palpation
- Bimanual (symmetry comparison)
- Bony facial skull [fracture/bone fracture due to very large cysts].
- Mandibular rim
- Jaw angle
- Pine branch
- Pine cavity wall
- Lymph nodes
- Nerve exit points
Intraoral examination
- Soft tissue swelling [infected cyst]
- Bone distention [large cyst]
- Palpation (palpation) of the alveolar process [“parchment crackling” – when palpation of a bone lamella over a cyst is now only thin].
- Foetor (bad breath) [infection]
- Oral hygiene / biofilm / tartar on tooth surfaces.
- Dental findings (general dental findings).
- Caries diagnosis/lesions
- Stages [caries profunda (“deep dental caries”)]
- Restorations [insufficient (inadequate)]
- Sensitivity testing on teeth with suspected periodontal or endodontal problems [devitalized tooth/”root-dead tooth” as a prerequisite for cyst]
- Caries diagnosis/lesions
- Periodontal findings
- Gingiva
- Pocket depths
- Tooth mobility [bone resorption][acute infection].
- Attachment loss (distance between enamel-cement interface and pocket floor).
- Furcation involvement – exposed bi- or trifurcations (root bifurcations).
- Percussion dolences (tapping sensitivity of teeth) [infected cyst].
- Functional findings
- Occlusion (” bite together”)
- Deviations
- Dental obstructions in jaw closure
- Abrasion and attrition
- Occlusion (” bite together”)
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.
