Performing an extra-oral and facial examination course for Dental Practitioners

This session describes the processes for performing extra-oral and facial examinations, and the reasons for carrying them out.

Learning objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• explain the importance of extra-oral examination
• describe the sequence of extra-oral examination
• demonstrate the examination of a lump
• describe the cervical lymph chain and how to examine it
• explain how to examine the different areas of the face

Extra-oral examination is an essential part of analysing a patient’s presenting complaint. Clues as to the presenting and underlying medical conditions may be gleaned from close observation of the patient and thorough clinical examination.