Australian Dental Council (ADC) Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct response focuses on palpating the borders of the tongue when conducting an intraoral examination in the specified area between the side of the tongue and the lateral border of the mandible. This anatomical region is critical for evaluating several relevant structures, including muscular and soft tissue components.

Palpating the borders of the tongue allows the clinician to assess for any abnormalities, such as lesions, swelling, or other variations that might indicate pathology. This area is particularly significant because it borders critical structures, including the lingual vessels and lymphatic tissues, which can be indicative of systemic conditions or localized infections.

In contrast, the other options involve different objectives that are not specifically relevant to the intraoral examination of this particular area. For instance, palpating the lymph nodes is more aligned with an external examination of the neck and surrounding tissues rather than focusing on the intraoral structures. Inspecting for dental plaque is more applicable to the surfaces of the teeth rather than the borders of the tongue. Assessing gingival tissue condition pertains to the gums and surrounding periodontium and is not directly related to the assessment of the tongue's borders. Thus, focusing on palpating the borders of the tongue is the most appropriate action in this scenario.