Mouth Examination

1
Mouth Examination

• Heather Nelson, RN

2
Lips

• For inspection, remove lipstick if present.
• Should be pink and symmetrical.
• Note color, moisture, cracking, lumps, and
  lesions.
• Palpate for edema and abnormalities.

3
Mouth

• Remove dentures if present.
• Inspect using adequate light source.
• Palpate using gloved hand.

4
Oral Mucosa Gums

• Inspect for
• color
• ulcerations
• white patches
• nodules
• swelling

5
Hard and Soft Palate

• Inspect for
• color
• architecture
• lesions
• Movement of the soft palate is evaluated by
  having patient say, ah.
• Failure of the soft palate to rise bilaterally
  with vocalization may result from paralysis of
  the vagus nerve.

6
Tongue

• Wrap tongue with gauze and pull from side to side
  and up to observe all surfaces.
• Note
• color
• texture
• ulcerations
• nodules
• ability to move
• frenulum

7
Pharynx

• tonsillar pillars
• tonsils--size
• uvula--is size problematic
• posterior pharynx
• inspect for color, swelling, exudate, lesions

8
Teeth

• 32 in the adult
• any missing
• discolorations/condition
• position
• Have patient clench teeth to observe occlusion.