HEAD AND CERVICAL SPINE

Mouth, Teeth, and Oral Cavity

 

Mouth

• Tongue: Used for tasting, speech, forming food into a bollus and moving it to the back of the mouth to be swallowed. 

• Soft Palate and Uvula: used to close off the nasopharynx pathway when swallowing

• Hard Palate: directs food to the back of the throat, assists in speech

• Palatine Tonsil: lymphatic tissue

• Lips: food intake, speech articulation, facial expression

 

Teeth

• Used for chewing and provides point for tongue to push against during speech.

• 28 teeth total in grown adults

  • Incisors (4 upper, 4 lower): four most anterior teeth, used for cutting food

  • Cuspids (2 upper, 2 lower): tearing food

  • Bicuspids (2 upper, 2 lower): also called premolars, crushing and grinding food

  • Molars (6 upper, 6 lower): crushing and grinding food

• Three main parts to the tooth: crown, neck, root

 

Assessment

• Observation

  • Check for bleeding, ecchymosis, discoloration (white, yellow, blue, etc.)

  • Look for obvious deformity, chips, or missing teeth and have patient look in a mirror (they know themselves best!)

  • Check gums for pinkness, discoloration, swelling, or bleeding

  • Tongue Depressor, Pen Lights, and mirrors are useful tools during examinations

• Annual Dental Examination

  • Patients should have teeth cleaned once a year by a professional