Module 4: What to Do and How to Do It
4.3 What is an Oral Health Screening? (continued)
With a gloved hand, the professional lifts the lips, feels the soft tissues, views the health of the teeth, and looks throughout the mouth. Almost any type of lighting, such as a flashlight, a portable gooseneck lamp, an examination light, or a headlamp, will work for an oral health screening. A tongue depressor or child-sized toothbrush can be used to move the lips to view the teeth. A dental mirror or other similar-sized mirror can make it easier for the professional to see behind the teeth and may make it possible to perform a more thorough screening, but such a mirror is not necessary.
When performing the oral health screening, the professional should
- Note whether the infant or child is currently in pain or has a dental abscess on the gums above/below the teeth. An abscess may look like a “gum boil” and may or may not have localized or generalized swelling with or without pus draining from the area. If the infant or child is in pain or has an abscess, refer the infant or child to a dentist immediately.
- Check whether tooth eruption and loss are proceeding according to schedule (see tooth eruption chart).
- Check the teeth for plaque and food debris.
- If the parent is present, demonstrate how to remove plaque and food debris from teeth using the appropriate-sized toothbrush.
(continued on next page)
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