OS

• Health History is taken to screen patients for systemic/communicable diseases, patient complications, allergies, and for medico-legal purposes.
• Health History is also taken to learn about vital signs, which are taken before dental procedures and serve as a baseline value.
• Normal vital signs include Oxygen saturation of 95-100, Pulse rate of 60-100 beats/min, Blood pressure of 120/80, Body temperature of 37°C, and Respiratory rate of 12-18 breaths/min.
• Medical History is accurate, most useful for treatment plan, and can be obtained through interview or questionnaire.
• The health history of a patient is divided into Subjective (comes from patient), which includes Personal, Symptoms, Past medical history, and Dental history, and Objective (examiner seen in patient), which includes Signs and Limited physical/extraoral examinations.
• The health history also includes Assessment, which includes Diagnosis, ready to formulate initial, differential, and final diagnoses, and Planning/Procedure, which includes Formulation of treatment plan and getting patient's approval.
• Chief Complaint is the main reason why a patient desires treatment and helps the clinician establish priorities during history taking and treatment planning.
• History of Present Illness is a chronological description of symptoms or cause, particularly its first appearance, any changes since its first appearance, and its influence on or by other factors.
• Past Medical History includes underlying systemic diseases (head to toe), and asks for any medications.
• Dental History notes extraction experience and orthodontic history.
• Extraoral Examination involves observing/checking physical attributes such as color, physical movement, and facial expression.
• Intraoral Examination involves checking anatomy and clinical examination.
• Vital signs are checked during health history, with normal values being Oxygen saturation of 95-100, Pulse rate of 60-100 beats/min, Blood pressure of 120/80, Body temperature of 37°C, and Respiratory rate of 12-18 breaths/min.
• Diagnostic tools used during health history include Radiograph, Pictures, Study Cast.
• The format for recording results of history and physical examinations includes Biographic data, Chief Complaint and its history, Medical History, Social and Family histories, Review of Systems, Physical Examination, Laboratory and Rx/Imaging exam results.
• The source of information for health history can be obtained through interview, questionnaires, both, or both.
• Sample interview questions for health history include How many pillows does the patient use, how high/low is the pillow placed, and what is the thickness of the pillow?
• Patients with cardiovascular problems often avoid using thin pillows because it is uncomfortable for them since they may experience shortness of breath.
• Thicker pillows and slightly-raised head allows for better breathing.
• Constitutional symptoms such as fever, chills, sweats, weight loss, fatigue, malaise, and loss of appetite are examined during a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• Dental pain or sensitivity, lip or mucosal sores, problems chewing, problems speaking, bad breath, loose restorations, sore throat, loud snoring are examined during a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• Decreased hearing, tinnitus (ringing), pain are examined during a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• Difficulty swallowing, change in voice, pain, stiffness are examined during a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• Palpation via touch is a part of a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• The risk of reinfarction after an MI drops to as low as it will ever be by about 6 months.
• Management of an oral surgical problem begins with a consultation with the patient's physician.
• Percussion via gloved hands, end of handle of mouth mirror is a part of a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Classification of Physical Status includes ASA I for a normal, healthy patient; ASA II for a patient with mild systemic disease or significant health risk; ASA III for a patient with moderate to severe systemic disease that is not incapacitating; ASA IV for a patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life; ASA V for a moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operation; and ASA VI for a declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donation purposes.
• Temporomandibular joint area pain, noise, limited jaw motion, locking, clicking are examined during a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• Fracture from a vehicular accident is considered a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• Rhinorrhea, epistaxis, problems breathing through nose, pain, change in sense of smell are examined during a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• Auscultation via stethoscope is a part of a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• Headache, dizziness, fainting, insomnia, symmetry, unusual color change are examined during a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• Elective dental procedures are referred to as "Freedom" procedures and are non-emergency exams.
• Inspection of the eyes, mouth mirror, proper illumination (white light) is a part of a routine review of head, neck and maxillofacial regions.
• Impacted tooth that does not cause discomfort is a non-elective dental procedure and is considered an emergency exam.
• If a patient had Myocardial Infarction, the best time for a dental treatment is until at least 6 months after an infarction.