What is a Clinical Diagnosis?
Diagnosis based on direct visual and tactile examination (shape, size, color, location, texture). Example: Fordyce granules, tori, melanin pigmentation, lingual varicosities.
What is a Radiographic Diagnosis?
Diagnosis based on dental radiographs revealing findings not visible clinically. Example: Dentigerous cyst seen as a radiolucency around an impacted tooth.
What is a Historical Diagnosis?
Diagnosis supported by medical, dental, drug, or family history. Example: Phenytoin use explaining drug-induced gingival hyperplasia.
What is a Laboratory Diagnosis?
Diagnosis using blood or urine tests to detect systemic disease. Example: Elevated alkaline phosphatase indicating Paget’s disease.
What is a Microscopic Diagnosis?
Diagnosis using biopsy and microscopic examination; often definitive. Example: Squamous cell carcinoma confirmed histologically.
What is a Surgical Diagnosis?
Diagnosis made through surgical exploration when other methods are inconclusive. Example: Dentigerous cyst confirmed during surgery.
What is a Therapeutic Diagnosis?
Diagnosis confirmed by response to treatment. Example: Oral lesions resolving after antifungal therapy confirms candidiasis.
What is a Differential Diagnosis?
A list of possible conditions that could explain findings, used to rule out serious disease and identify the most likely cause.
