Comprehensive Dental Diagnostic
Process: Clinical, Radiographic, and
Histological Methods
Who is ultimately responsible for the definitive diagnosis of a lesion in dentistry?
The dentist
What role does the dental hygienist play in the diagnostic process?
They are key in the preliminary evaluation and data collection of oral pathologic
conditions.
How many categories are in the diagnostic process?
Eight categories: Clinical, Radiographic, Historical, Laboratory, Microscopic, Surgical,
Therapeutic, and Differential findings.
What is a clinical diagnosis?
A diagnosis based on the clinical picture alone, often involving variants of normal.
Name three conditions identified with a clinical diagnosis.
Fordyce Granule, Fissured Tongue, and Black Hairy Tongue.
What is a radiographic diagnosis?
A diagnosis derived from information found on x-ray images.
Name two conditions identified with a radiographic diagnosis.
Periapical Pathosis and Dentigerous Cyst.
What does a historical diagnosis rely on?
It relies on any aspect of the patient or lesion history.
Name two conditions identified using a historical diagnosis.
Dentinogenesis Imperfecta and Ulcerative Colitis.
What is involved in laboratory diagnosis?
May involve blood chemistries, urinalysis, or cultures.
What is a microscopic diagnosis?
A diagnosis often made through scalpel biopsy or brush biopsy.
Name a condition identified through microscopic diagnosis.
Hand-Schuller-Christian disease.
What is a surgical diagnosis?
A diagnosis that requires surgical intervention.
Name a condition identified through surgical diagnosis.
Stafne Bone Cyst.
What is a therapeutic diagnosis?
A diagnosis applied to cases with strong clinical and/or historical information.
Name two conditions identified through therapeutic diagnosis.
Angular Cheilitis and Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (NUG).
What is differential diagnosis?
A process using tests or procedures to rule out conditions originally suspected.
What is the role of dental hygienists in differential diagnosis?
, To be observant and collect data on the patient's medical and dental health histories.
What is a definitive diagnosis?
Determined when all suspected causes except one have been eliminated.
What is the 'LOOK, LISTEN AND FEEL' approach in differential diagnosis?
A method involving visual examination, listening to patient history, and palpating the
lesion.
What should be included in the patient's health history for diagnosis?
Current drugs, including OTCs and herbals, and social history such as alcohol and
tobacco use.
What features should be palpated in a lesion?
Firmness, bony hardness, softness, fluctuation, roughness, and texture compared to
surrounding tissue.
Who is ultimately responsible for the definitive diagnosis of a lesion in dentistry?
The dentist
What role does the dental hygienist play in the diagnostic process?
They are key in the preliminary evaluation and data collection of oral pathologic
conditions.
How many categories are in the diagnostic process?
Eight categories: Clinical, Radiographic, Historical, Laboratory, Microscopic, Surgical,
Therapeutic, and Differential findings.
What is a clinical diagnosis?
A diagnosis based on the clinical picture alone, often involving variants of normal.
Name three conditions identified with a clinical diagnosis.
Fordyce Granule, Fissured Tongue, and Black Hairy Tongue.
What is a radiographic diagnosis?
A diagnosis derived from information found on x-ray images.
Name two conditions identified with a radiographic diagnosis.
Periapical Pathosis and Dentigerous Cyst.
What does a historical diagnosis rely on?
It relies on any aspect of the patient or lesion history.
Name two conditions identified using a historical diagnosis.
Dentinogenesis Imperfecta and Ulcerative Colitis.
What is involved in laboratory diagnosis?
May involve blood chemistries, urinalysis, or cultures.
What is a microscopic diagnosis?
A diagnosis often made through scalpel biopsy or brush biopsy.
Name a condition identified through microscopic diagnosis.
Hand-Schuller-Christian disease.
What is a surgical diagnosis?
A diagnosis that requires surgical intervention.
Name a condition identified through surgical diagnosis.
Stafne Bone Cyst.
Process: Clinical, Radiographic, and
Histological Methods
Who is ultimately responsible for the definitive diagnosis of a lesion in dentistry?
The dentist
What role does the dental hygienist play in the diagnostic process?
They are key in the preliminary evaluation and data collection of oral pathologic
conditions.
How many categories are in the diagnostic process?
Eight categories: Clinical, Radiographic, Historical, Laboratory, Microscopic, Surgical,
Therapeutic, and Differential findings.
What is a clinical diagnosis?
A diagnosis based on the clinical picture alone, often involving variants of normal.
Name three conditions identified with a clinical diagnosis.
Fordyce Granule, Fissured Tongue, and Black Hairy Tongue.
What is a radiographic diagnosis?
A diagnosis derived from information found on x-ray images.
Name two conditions identified with a radiographic diagnosis.
Periapical Pathosis and Dentigerous Cyst.
What does a historical diagnosis rely on?
It relies on any aspect of the patient or lesion history.
Name two conditions identified using a historical diagnosis.
Dentinogenesis Imperfecta and Ulcerative Colitis.
What is involved in laboratory diagnosis?
May involve blood chemistries, urinalysis, or cultures.
What is a microscopic diagnosis?
A diagnosis often made through scalpel biopsy or brush biopsy.
Name a condition identified through microscopic diagnosis.
Hand-Schuller-Christian disease.
What is a surgical diagnosis?
A diagnosis that requires surgical intervention.
Name a condition identified through surgical diagnosis.
Stafne Bone Cyst.
What is a therapeutic diagnosis?
A diagnosis applied to cases with strong clinical and/or historical information.
Name two conditions identified through therapeutic diagnosis.
Angular Cheilitis and Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (NUG).
What is differential diagnosis?
A process using tests or procedures to rule out conditions originally suspected.
What is the role of dental hygienists in differential diagnosis?
, To be observant and collect data on the patient's medical and dental health histories.
What is a definitive diagnosis?
Determined when all suspected causes except one have been eliminated.
What is the 'LOOK, LISTEN AND FEEL' approach in differential diagnosis?
A method involving visual examination, listening to patient history, and palpating the
lesion.
What should be included in the patient's health history for diagnosis?
Current drugs, including OTCs and herbals, and social history such as alcohol and
tobacco use.
What features should be palpated in a lesion?
Firmness, bony hardness, softness, fluctuation, roughness, and texture compared to
surrounding tissue.
Who is ultimately responsible for the definitive diagnosis of a lesion in dentistry?
The dentist
What role does the dental hygienist play in the diagnostic process?
They are key in the preliminary evaluation and data collection of oral pathologic
conditions.
How many categories are in the diagnostic process?
Eight categories: Clinical, Radiographic, Historical, Laboratory, Microscopic, Surgical,
Therapeutic, and Differential findings.
What is a clinical diagnosis?
A diagnosis based on the clinical picture alone, often involving variants of normal.
Name three conditions identified with a clinical diagnosis.
Fordyce Granule, Fissured Tongue, and Black Hairy Tongue.
What is a radiographic diagnosis?
A diagnosis derived from information found on x-ray images.
Name two conditions identified with a radiographic diagnosis.
Periapical Pathosis and Dentigerous Cyst.
What does a historical diagnosis rely on?
It relies on any aspect of the patient or lesion history.
Name two conditions identified using a historical diagnosis.
Dentinogenesis Imperfecta and Ulcerative Colitis.
What is involved in laboratory diagnosis?
May involve blood chemistries, urinalysis, or cultures.
What is a microscopic diagnosis?
A diagnosis often made through scalpel biopsy or brush biopsy.
Name a condition identified through microscopic diagnosis.
Hand-Schuller-Christian disease.
What is a surgical diagnosis?
A diagnosis that requires surgical intervention.
Name a condition identified through surgical diagnosis.
Stafne Bone Cyst.
