A dental examintion is an inspection of the teeth and surrounding soft tissues of the oral cavity. The dentist uses an explorer, a slender steel instrument with a flexible, sharp point, to probe the minute indentations on tooth surfaces for signs of demineralization and caries development. Fillings are also inspected, and a radiographic record of the teeth is usually made. The examination also includes inspection of the floor of the mouth, all surfaces of the tongue, the salivary glands and ducts, and the lymph nodes of the neck