OSCE QUESTIONS | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE STATIONS & ANSWERS
2026/2027
Please take a history from this fit and healthy 40 year old lady who has been suffering from
facial pain. - correct answer ✔✔Introduce yourself
Confirm details
PCO - in their own words
HPC:
SOCRATES = site, onset, characteristics, radiation, associated factors, alleviating factors (inc.
previous tx) time (duration), exacerbating factors, severity
What features would lead you to suspect a pt was suffering from atypical facial pain? - correct
answer ✔✔Site - migrates, crosses anatomical boundaries
Onset - pt often links it to past tx, chronic - lasts for years
Characteristics - varies but mainly continuous, sharp, throbbing, aching
Radiation - radiates across anatomical boundaries
Associated factors - no local signs of inflammation
Alleviating factors - common analgesics have no effect, multiple tx which hasn't relieved pain
Time - continuous in duration and periodicity
Exacerbating factors - unusual stimuli
Severity - "very severe"
Sleep - prevents sleep
Pt referred with pain and clicking of TMJ. Please examine. - correct answer ✔✔Introduce
yourself
PCO, HPC - SOCRATES briefly
Extra-oral exam:
, - facial asymmetry, lip competence, abnormalities
- palpate lymph nodes
- palpate TMJ for pain and tenderness as pt opens their mouth
- listen for any noises and note them
- check path of opening and closing
- palpate TMJ during lateral and protrusive excursion
- measure max opening (~45mm) and excursions (10mm)
- palpate muscles of mast.
Intra-oral exam:
- chart teeth and their health
- tooth wear pattern?
- ICP and RCP
- group fn, guidance, excursions
- displacements
- frictional keratosis? From grinding
Comments:
- click implies displaced disc
- crepitus or grating noise implies degenerative change within joint
- deviation of mandible caused by obstruction at the joint
44 y/o complains of weakness on one side of her face. Examine cranial nerves. - correct answer
✔✔Introduce yourself
Confirm pt details
Explain procedure
12 cranial nerves:
CN I - olfactory: test with aromatic substances, each side. Ask pt if they ever have trouble
smelling.
2026/2027
Please take a history from this fit and healthy 40 year old lady who has been suffering from
facial pain. - correct answer ✔✔Introduce yourself
Confirm details
PCO - in their own words
HPC:
SOCRATES = site, onset, characteristics, radiation, associated factors, alleviating factors (inc.
previous tx) time (duration), exacerbating factors, severity
What features would lead you to suspect a pt was suffering from atypical facial pain? - correct
answer ✔✔Site - migrates, crosses anatomical boundaries
Onset - pt often links it to past tx, chronic - lasts for years
Characteristics - varies but mainly continuous, sharp, throbbing, aching
Radiation - radiates across anatomical boundaries
Associated factors - no local signs of inflammation
Alleviating factors - common analgesics have no effect, multiple tx which hasn't relieved pain
Time - continuous in duration and periodicity
Exacerbating factors - unusual stimuli
Severity - "very severe"
Sleep - prevents sleep
Pt referred with pain and clicking of TMJ. Please examine. - correct answer ✔✔Introduce
yourself
PCO, HPC - SOCRATES briefly
Extra-oral exam:
, - facial asymmetry, lip competence, abnormalities
- palpate lymph nodes
- palpate TMJ for pain and tenderness as pt opens their mouth
- listen for any noises and note them
- check path of opening and closing
- palpate TMJ during lateral and protrusive excursion
- measure max opening (~45mm) and excursions (10mm)
- palpate muscles of mast.
Intra-oral exam:
- chart teeth and their health
- tooth wear pattern?
- ICP and RCP
- group fn, guidance, excursions
- displacements
- frictional keratosis? From grinding
Comments:
- click implies displaced disc
- crepitus or grating noise implies degenerative change within joint
- deviation of mandible caused by obstruction at the joint
44 y/o complains of weakness on one side of her face. Examine cranial nerves. - correct answer
✔✔Introduce yourself
Confirm pt details
Explain procedure
12 cranial nerves:
CN I - olfactory: test with aromatic substances, each side. Ask pt if they ever have trouble
smelling.
