Intraoral examination
Use a systematic soft tissue, periodontal, dental and occlusal examination. Describe lesions by site, size, morphology and change over time.
Understand
Use a consistent order across mucosa, tongue, floor of mouth, palate, gingiva, teeth, periodontium and occlusion. Good light, dry field and palpation reveal findings inspection alone may miss.
Assess
Map lesions by exact anatomical site, dimensions, surface, colour, induration and symptoms. For teeth, combine charting with periodontal and restorative assessment.
Apply
Record a baseline photograph when appropriate and consented. Do not let a plausible dental source explain away an unrelated soft tissue lesion or persistent asymmetry.
Key distinctions
A reproducible soft tissue record includes exact subsite, size, colour, border, surface, ulceration and induration. For teeth, combine visual findings with mobility, percussion, probing and imaging. A photograph helps track change but cannot capture firmness, so text and palpation remain essential. Examine the rest of the mouth for a second lesion or source.
Think through a case
A tiny white area on the lateral tongue feels indurated. Palpation changes the level of concern; a photograph alone would have missed a decisive feature.
The distinction to remember
Do not omit the floor of mouth, posterior lateral tongue or neck from an examination focused on a complaint elsewhere.
Test your recall
What details make an oral lesion description reproducible?
Show answer
Precise site, dimensions, colour, surface, borders and tenderness or induration.