HEAD AND NECK REVIEW

INTRA/EXTRA ORAL

EXAMINATIONChelsea Huntington, RDH, BS.

Student Clinical Teaching Internship, MSDHUniversity of Bridgeport, Fones School of Dental

Hygiene

REVIEW Head and Neck Muscles Head and Neck lymph Nodes Thyroid Tissue Oral Anatomy Methods of Palpation Oral Cancer Screening

FACIAL SYMMETRY ?

THYROID

Tilt Head Back Observe Patient Swallow

THYROID PALPATION

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BI-DIGITAL PALPATION

A tactile method of oral examination in which the examiner uses the thumb and forefinger of one hand to rule out abnormalities.

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BI-MANUAL PALPATION

Palpation with both hands in the physical examination of a patient.

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BI-LATERAL PALPATION

Palpation of both Right and Left sides of the body, can be simultaneously.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Have patient open and close

several times. Have patient open and slide

jaw side to side ( Lateral Excursion)

Have patient jut mandible forward (Protrude)

Have patient pull mandible back (Retrude)

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ORAL CANCER STATISTICS Close to 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with

oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. Of those only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years. (Approximately 57%).

It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day.

Historically the death rate associated with this cancer is particularly high not because it is hard to discover or diagnose, but due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development.

RECENT STUDIES

It is now confirmed that in a younger age group, including those who have never used any tobacco products, have a cause which is HPV16 viral based.

In the oral environment HPV16 manifests itself primarily in the back (posterior) regions such as the base of the tongue, the oropharynx (the back of the throat in the mouth), the tonsils and the tonsillar pillars.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR? Sores, lumps or wart-like masses

which can be felt inside the mouth or on the neck, that do not heal within 14 days.

Red and or white patched lesions. Pain or difficulty in swallowing,

speaking, or chewing. Hoarseness which lasts for a long time Any numbness in the oral/facial region. Unilateral persistent ear ache can also

be a warning sign.

REFERENCES: http://oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/ind

ex.htm