1. Patient's account :-
The patient describes the reasons for seeking dental care.
2. Clinician's questioning :-
The dentist asks detailed questions about the patient's symptoms and history.
3. Clinical tests :-
The dentist performs objective tests to gather further information.
4. Differential diagnosis :-
The dentist analyzes the gathered information, considering various possible diagnoses.
5. Definitive diagnosis :-
The dentist formulates a final, accurate diagnosis.