Which practice is recommended when examining an elderly patient’s face?

• A. Examine with the lips at rest
• B. Examine with the lips pursed
• C. Examine with the lips parted
• D. Examine with the lips tight

Answer: (A)

Positioning the lips in a natural, resting state during an elderly patient’s face examination provides the most accurate and representative view of the perioral tissues and overall facial support. When the lips are at rest, the facial muscles aren’t actively contracting, so you’re seeing the true baseline of tissue contour, color, and integrity. This helps you assess important features such as the mucosal condition, denture support and lip seal, wrinkles or atrophy around the mouth, and any signs of lip competence or incompetence that can affect function and esthetics. If the lips were pursed, parted, or tightly closed, muscular movement would distort these observations, potentially hiding lesions, mucosal changes, or the true relationship between the lips, teeth, and surrounding tissues. In elderly patients, where tissue elasticity and denture considerations are common concerns, resting lips give a stable, natural reference point for evaluation.