Dentistry is changing rapidly. Not only do we need to learn new clinical techniques, properties of new materials, and know when to use them, we also need to keep up to date with the changes necessary for comprehensive clinical charting and recording of findings. In this presentation you will learn how to comprehensively diagnose and record information for every patient in a systematic, efficient, and effective way. Communicating dental problems to our patients begins in the examination process and should not be left to the treatment plan presentation. Learning how to communicate better with our patients will help more people understand their dental health and take ownership of their dental needs. Many dentists who think they are already performing well in this area are surprised by this new spin on examinations and feel it not only improves their relationships with their patients, but it also increases their case acceptance.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• You will learn how to conduct your clinical examination in a systematic format that is compliant for legal purposes.
• Learn how to extend your consultations to include a thorough TMJ and oral cancer examination together with a caries activity and airways screening.
• Obtain templates to help guide you through the examination process.
• Discover how to inform your patient before you perform the clinical examination. This enables the patient to ‘diagnose’ themselves rather than you having to tell them what they need.