NOSE, MOUTH, AND

THROAT

By: Susie Keepper RN, RDH

Your nose knows

YE

S, IT

’SA

NO

SE. W

EA

LL

HA

VE

TH

EM

!!

A nose warms,

moistens, filters

the inhaled air,

and the sensory

organ for smell.

“I am thankful for

laughter, except

when milk comes

out of my nose.”

Woody Allen

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR NOSE?

Inside the nares are hairs that filter out the

coarsest matter from inhaled air. Further up

the nose is a mucous blanket which filters out

dust and bacteria.

Within the nasal cavity we have the frontal,

maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. The

frontal sinuses are absent at birth and are fairly

well developed between 7-8 yrs. old.

NORMAL FINDINGS OF THE NOSE

The nose should be

symmetrical, in the

midline, and in

proportion to other

facial features. Inspect

for any deformity,

asymmetry,

inflammation or skin

lesions.

ASSESSMENT

Using the Otoscope, note any

swelling, discharge, bleeding, or

foreign bodies.

Checking the sinuses, pt should

feel firm pressure but no pain.

Inspection Palpation

PROPER ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES

Always wear a mask and

gloves. Lean the patient

back as far as you can.

Use your pin light,

Otoscope, tongue

depressor, and mouth

mirror. Tell the patient

what you are doing and

why.

WHAT I WILL NEED FOR AN ASSESSMENT

Otoscope

Fingers for palpation

Tongue depressor

Pin light

Mouth mirror

Shepherds hook explorer

Nose Mouth and Throat

What is considered an abnormality?

• Pain

• Trauma

• Sores or lesions

• Epistaxis (nose bleeds)

• Allergies

• Hoarseness

• Bleeding gums

• Dysphagia

• Xerostomia (dry mouth)

• Altered taste

• Discharge

• Sore throat

• Toothache

WHAT YOU COULD SEE IN THE NOSE

You might see a screw

up a 2yr olds nose.

Perforated Septum

A hole in the septum, usually

in the cartilaginous part, may

be caused by snorting

cocaine, chronic infection,

trauma from continual picking

of crusts, or nasal surgery.

Allergic Rhinitis

Rhinorrhea, itching of

nose and eyes, nasal

congestion, and sneezing.

Note the serous edema

and swelling to fill the air

space.

SMILE

BR

US

HA

ND

FL

OS

S! B

RU

SH

AN

DF

LO

SS!

A healthy nose,

mouth, and throat

are all disease free

with no lumps,

bumps, swellings,

decay, discharge or

color disturbances.

They need to be pink

and healthy looking.

Now you knew I

would put a picture

on here of dental

floss!

HAVE A LOOK INSIDE YOUR MOUTH!

1 Palatine raphé

2 Hard palate

3 Vibrating line (at junction of hard/soft palates)

4 Soft palate

5 Uvula

6 Maxillary tuberosity

7 Posterior pilar (pharyngopalatine muscle)

8 Anterior pillar (glossopalatine muscle)

9 Posterior wall of pharynx

10 Palatine tonsil

11 Retromolar area

12 Deep lingual artery/vein

13 Fimbriated fold

14 Frenulum of tongue

15 Sublingual fold

16 Sublingual caruncle (with opening of submandibular

duct)

THE TONGUE IS MADE UP OF SEVEN (7) DIFFERENT KINDS OF MUSCLES FOR MASTICATION, SWALLOWING,

CLEANSING OF THE TEETH AND SPEECH. THE SALIVARY GLANDS ARE TO MOISTEN AND LUBRICATE THE

FOOD BOLUS, START DIGESTION, AND CLEAN AND PROTECT THE MUCOSA.

WE HAVE 32 TEETH AND THEY WANT TO BE SEEN BY YOUR DENTIST AND FRIENDLY LOCAL REGISTERED

DENTAL HYGIENIST!!

NORMAL FINDINGS IN THE MOUTH

As a dental hygienist

I look for coral or pink

coloring with stippling

in the gum tissue and

good alignment of the

teeth. I want to see an

absence of decay,

recession, infection,

broken teeth, periodontal

disease, or gingivitis.

ABNORMALITIES OF THE MOUTH

EXCESS BONE FORMATION

Palatal Tori is in the

roof of the mouth

Tori is located in the

bottom of the mouth

Palatal Tori Tori

Black Hairy Tongue: from over use

of antibiotics, hydrogen peroxide or

smoking.

Cleft lip and palate: the

malformation of the palate.

Mucocele: is a pocket of mucus

that forms when a minor salivary

glands are occlude.

This is a mouth full of infection,

tarter, and recession. Yes, I see

cases like this.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Dental hygienists probe and take

measurements to assess the health of the

gum tissue. A hygienist should probe no

further than 3mm. This picture notes about an

7 mm pocket under the gum line.

METH MOUTH

Unfortunately I have seen this too. Only when the patient becomes

clean and sober do they realize they have toothaches.

Baby Bottle Decay is shown below. It occurs in infants and toddlers who take

a bottle of milk, juice, or sweetened drink to bed and prolong bottle-feeding

past the age of one year. The white lesions are the start of decay.

Tooth decay: it takes 3-5 years to

develop. It can be prevented!

BRUSH AND FLOSS!!

Gingival Hyperplasia: mainly

associated with Dilantin.

Kaposi Sarcoma in an AIDS patient

Syphilis at the site of inoculation

Leukoplakia: chalky white, thick, raised

patch with will-defined borders. Will not

wipe off. Dental professionals usually

monitor it.

Darker pigmentation on the gum tissue is

seen in Caucasians who has ethnicity in

their heritage.

Notice the severe wearing of the upper

teeth. This is due to bruxism (grinding).

This person has an open bite

because of a tongue thrust. Also

mal occlusion is noted due to the

bilateral cross bite.

Cross bite

Throat

THE THROAT CONSIST OF THE OROPHARYNX, TONSILS, AND THE NASOPHARYNX. TONSILS ARE A

MASS OF LYMPHOID TISSUE WHICH AIDE IN THE IMMUNE RESPONSE. OCCASIONALLY, TONSILS

CAN DEVELOP DEEP CRYPTS IN WHICH

FOOD PARTICLES CAN GET CAUGHT.

NORMAL FINDINGS OF THE THROAT

A healthy throat should be pink with no lumps, bumps

or color disturbances. Say “AHHHH”!

ABNORMATLIES OF THE THROAT

Acute Tonsillitis and Pharyngitis:

bright red throat; swollen tonsils,

white or yellow exudate on tonsils

and pharynx, with swollen uvula.

Bifid Uvula: May indicate a

submucous cleft plate. Many may

have the uvula removed due to

snoring.

THIS IS ME WORKING ON A PATIENT

Thank you for viewing my slide presentation. I feel I have

the best of both worlds, as a Registered Nurse and a

Registered Dental Hygienist.

Susie

The End