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Physical examination and anamnesis are foremost and fundamental in any health area in order to obtain precise diagnosis and suitable treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the importance given by the students to the diagnosis process. A total of 150 volunteer students were evaluated through a questionnaire taking into consideration the importance given to detailed physical examination and anamnesis. The results were analyzed by descriptive statistics: 45.6% of the volunteers failed to ask some kind of question; 3.88% of the students from the night course and 26% from the comprehensive course are not used to explaining the importance of anamnesis to their patients; 66.99% of the students are used to evaluating the stomatognathic system as a whole; and only 47.57% of the students feel motivated to perform the complete extra- and intra-oral physical examination in the clinic. In view of the results, we can see that there is a need for new studies using other evaluation methods, including evaluation of clinical practice, in order to improve the teaching/learning processes.