Lingual Teeth
The upper front lingual surfaces are at high risk for dental caries as they are not well protected by the tongue and saliva. These areas are often not brushed adequately and problems are harder to detect.
- View the inner (lingual) surfaces of the teeth—a mouth mirror can be helpful but is not mandatory. Most of the lingual teeth can be viewed with changes in examiner position
- If necessary, use a tongue blade or toothbrush to open the mouth.
- If no equipment is available, the examiner can use their finger to apply pressure to the chin to open the mouth, or a gloved finger in the sulcus of the mouth (between teeth and lip) to apply gentle pressure. Do not put a finger across the teeth to avoid getting bitten.
Mouth mirror can be very helpful
Mark Deutchman, MD