Page 376 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

f. The teeth are inspected for condition
and number (should be white, spaced
evenly, straight, and clean, free of
debris and decay).
g. The alignment of the upper and lower
jaws is assessed by having the client
bite down.
h. The gums are inspected for swelling,
bleeding, discoloration, and retraction
of gingival margins (gums normally
appear pink).
i. The tongue is inspected for color,
surface characteristics, moisture, white
patches, nodules, and ulcerations
(dorsal surface is normally rough;
ventral surface is smooth and
glistening, with visible veins).
j. The nurse retracts the cheek with a
tongue depressor to check the buccal
mucosa for color and the presence of
nodules or lesions; normal mucosa is
glistening, pink, soft, moist, and
smooth.
k. Using a penlight and tongue depressor,
the nurse inspects the hard and soft
palates for color, shape, texture, and
defects; the hard palate (roof of the
mouth), which is located anteriorly,
should be white and dome-shaped,
and the soft palate, which extends
posteriorly, should be light pink and
smooth.
l. The uvula is inspected for midline
location; the nurse asks the client to
say “ahhh” and watches for the soft
palate and uvula to rise in the midline
(this tests 1 function of cranial nerve X,
the vagus nerve).
m. Using a penlight and tongue
depressor, the nurse inspects the throat
for color, presence of tonsils, and the
presence of exudate or lesions; tonsils
should be graded (0 is surgically
removed; 1 + is tonsils hidden within
pillars; 2 + is tonsils extending to the
pillars, 3 + is tonsils extending beyond
the pillars, 4 + is tonsils extending to
the midline). One technique to test

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