Routine History‐Taking and Physical Examination

The primary job of the dental student starting clinical work is to learn to conduct a patient workup thoroughly and efficiently. The heart of every patient workup is a set pattern done in a sequential order of data collection and analysis. The purpose of medical history and physical examination is to collect information from the patient, to examine the patient, and to understand the patient's problems. In order to achieve maximum success, the medical history must be accurate, concise, and systematic. This chapter presents a standard outline in sequential order of the different components of history-taking. The introductory materials in the health history consist of collecting several types of information from the patient. Review of systems (ROS) is a methodical inquiry prior to physical examination. It provides a thorough search for further disease processes in the patient. If the patient has failed to mention certain symptoms, the process of ROS helps remind the patient.