Copyright © 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1 PowerPoint ® Presentation for...

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1

PowerPoint® Presentation for Introduction to Dental Assisting

Module: Examining the Dental Patient


Module:Examining the Dental Patient

Examining the Dental Patient

Part A: Patient History and Examination

Part B: Vital Signs



Learning Objectives1. Define the Key Terms.

2. Recognize the importance of a patient

medical and dental history.

3. Review a medical history and identify any

areas of concern.

4. Recognize the steps in an oral evaluation

including the lips, tongue, lymph nodes, and

oral cavity.



Learning Objectives

5. Perform and record vital signs on the

patient including temperature, pulse,

respiration, and blood pressure.

6. Read vital signs and alert the dentist if

the signs are not within normal limits.


Key Terms

• Asymmetric• Baseline vital signs• Brachial artery• Celsius• Commissures• Diastolic blood

pressure• Exhalation• Fahrenheit• Fever

• Inhalation• Palpate• Smile line• Sphygmomanometer• Stethoscope• Symmetric• Systolic blood

pressure• Vermilion border• Vital signs


Part A: Patient History and Examination

Personal information

Medical information

Dental information


Clinical Observation

• DA observes patient as he or she is escorted into the treatment room.

– Look for:

• Deviation from the normal: walking with an abnormal gait, speech or behavioral problems, and symmetry of the patient’s face.

– Any deviations must be noted in chart.


Clinical Evaluation


Part B: Vital Signs

• Temperature

• Pulse

Normal range in Fahrenheit:99.5 – 98.6 (average) – 96.0

Normal range for an adult is:60 to 90 beats per minute

Normal range for a child is:90 to 120 beats per minute


Vital Signs

• Respiration

• Blood Pressure

Normal respiration for an adult is:12 to 18 respirations per minute

Normal respiration for a child is:20 to 40 respirations per minute

Normal blood pressure range for an adult is:Systolic pressure: 100 – 140 mm HgDiastolic pressure: 60 – 90 mm Hg


Vital Signs

Body Temperature


Vital Signs

Pulse rate determined by palpation


Vital Signs

Taking patient’s radial pulse and respiration


Vital Signs


Assessment Questions

• Why should the DA keep fingers on the radial pulse while counting the patient’s respirations?

• What is the proper position of the earpieces of the stethoscope in the ears?

This allows the patient to continue to breathe normally because he or she believes the pulse is still being recorded.

The earpieces should be placed forward into the ear canals.


Summary of Module

• Key Terms• The dental team• Communication• Dental nomenclature• Dental charts and abbreviations• Patient history and examination• Vital signs

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1 PowerPoint ® Presentation for...

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