Presented by Oral Medicine Specialist Dr Sue-Ching Yeoh

Soft tissue screening is often overlooked in general dental practice, yet it plays a critical role in detecting early signs of systemic disease and oral malignancy. In this lecture, oral medicine specialist Dr Sue-Ching Yeoh presents a systematic approach to extra oral and intra oral examination, highlighting what to look for, how to describe findings, and when to refer. With minimal equipment and a structured technique, general dentists can confidently perform mucosal exams as part of routine care, improving diagnosis, documentation, and patient outcomes.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn how to perform a thorough and systematic extra oral and intra oral soft tissue examination.
• Understand how to recognise normal anatomical variations and identify suspicious lesions.
• Gain confidence in describing oral lesions using standard clinical terminology.
• Know when and how to refer patients for further investigation or specialist management.
• Explore the use, benefits, and limitations of optical adjunctive aids in oral mucosal screening.
• Improve patient communication and comfort during soft tissue assessments.