A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic and therapeutic steps.
Extraoral examination
- Inspection (viewing)
- Fistulae
- Swellings
- Parafunctions (lip/cheek sucking or pressing, etc.)
- Palpation (palpation)
Intraoral examination
- Dental findings (general dental findings).
- Status of tooth eruption [impacted tooth germ as cause of resorption].
- Restorations
- Caries diagnostics
- Teeth in need of treatment
- Tooth structure defects
- Tooth fractures (collapse of a tooth, incomplete fracture).
- Sensitivity testing – especially on teeth with suspected periodontal or endodontal problems [positive for internal resorption].
- Intraoperative (“during a surgical procedure”) findings.
- Differential diagnosis secondary caries/internal resorption.
- Anomalies
- Root shape
- Root length
- “pink spot” (reddish discoloration of tooth crown; endodont/”tooth interior” showing through) [invasive cervical resorption].
- Infraocclusion [ankylosis/union of teeth with jawbone]
- Extrusion (“elongation of the teeth”) [resorption due to infection]
- Periodontal findings
- Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)
- Periodontitis (inflammation of the periodontium / parodont).
- Resorptive tissue [invasive cervical resorption]
- Tooth mobility [reduced in ankylosis, increased in infection-related resorption]
- Percussion dolence (sensitivity of teeth to tapping) [infection-related resorption].
- Percussion sound (tapping sound) [bright in ankylosis, dull in infection-related resorption]
- Fistula [infection-related resorption]
- Functional findings
- Occlusal trauma (damage to the periodontium (tooth-supporting apparatus) due to overloading/misloading of a tooth with a normal periodontium).
- Abrasion and attrition (loss of tooth structure caused by friction).
- Wedge-shaped defects
- Dental obstructions during jaw closure
- Lip tone
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.