General Medical Information

Oral Cavity

James A. Duncavage
John R. Coleman, Jr.

The oral cavity requires good lighting for careful inspection, and the lighting should be parallel to the viewer’s visual axis. Two wooden tongue blades, one in each hand, are used to move the lips and tongue to visualize all mucosal surfaces adequately. A palpation of the tongue and an assessment of its mobility should be done. The hard palate and premaxilla are commonly overlooked because of the difficulty in viewing this area, but using a mirror or having the patient extend his or her neck will provide a good view.