{ODs Galore}

Pretty much all I've done this past month is ODs.  Seriously.  I've only cleaned 4 quads.  Maybe I'll get to actually clean teeth one of these days.

Today I saw a really nice guy who I didn't know.  He was a 1B, and I got through 4 BWX (2 retakes) gah!, OD, and OHI.  I was SO hoping to be able to scale at least one quad, but no such luck.  I feel bad because he came up in December and just had a screening by my peer pal, had to come back today, and then a third time to finish him up.  He's coming next Monday for me to finish him.  I am determined to finish him!  He does have a few areas of moderate calculus, so I should be able to use my Ultrasonic!  Overall, today was pretty good.  I've been too hard on myself the past couple of weeks, and just need to relax and realize I'm learning, and all of these skills take time!

On Wednesday I'm seeing my friend Ashley who was my first pt. of the semester.  I need to scale all four quads and I better do it!  I'm hoping this appt. goes smoother than the last time she was in.  Last time I felt all flustered and forgot how to do just about everything.  I think I've improved a little since then, hopefully!

Now I need to study for another test. Boooooo!

{Class V}

Today I had my mother in law come in. She is so sweet to come up for me! We only got through an OD, but she is a Class V! I got kind of down on myself today, because I feel like I take SO long to do my OD. I was pretty off today though because I've been having some pretty bad back pain and had a hard time concentrating and moving quickly. I am getting really worried about getting all of the requirements done. I really need to work harder on my time, and X-rays! I feel like I always have to do retakes. How come I suck it up now, but could take perfect X-rays as an assistant?! Grr!! I just need to have a better attitude and not expect so much from myself so soon. One good thing is that I passed off my instrument sharpening PE! 2 down, a million to go! Adios!!

{Class II?}

I was pretty nervous for today.  It was my first day of seeing somebody I don't know yet, and he was a NP.  Well, I got to clinic early and got all set up, and by 8:00, he wasn't there yet.  So, by 8:10, I went up front, and he was just getting done checked in.  Phew!  So, I brought him back and did HHX and asked him if he wanted x-rays today.  I told him the price, and he said he didn't bring any money with him today.  Aaaah!  So, I told him that we would at least do the part of the appointment that doesn't cost anything.  I figured he was most likely a 1B because he is young, and I wouldn't be lucky enough to get anything more than that.  Well, as I was doing his exam, I noticed his extremely swollen, and red gums and heavy plaque and calculus.  Wow!  I haven't seen that yet!  He had hardly any dental charting, which was SO nice and no lesions.  Loved that!  So, I started probing, and had to stop after doing about 4 teeth because I couldn't read the probe because of the amount of plaque.  So, I stopped and did a little OHI with toothbrushing.  That helped a little.  As I was going, I could definitely feel lots of buildup subgingivally, and was getting a lot of 4 mm pockets.  I felt bad because it was definitely painful for him.  He kept wincing and jumping.  Well, after that got done, I decided I was going to need some x-rays to classify him, so I offered to pay for them.  He agreed, and I went and got all set up.  When I came back in to get him, he told me that his work just called him and needed him to come in as soon as possible.  Ugh!  So, Instructor Demmings was so great and came right over and did the OD check as fast as she could.  She was really great about helping me to identify things that I wasn't quite sure about.  She also was great about educating the pt. and reiterating everything that I told him.  So, Inst. Demmings told me that she thinks that he is most likely a Class II, and will have to be numb for his scaling because of how sensitive he is.  She let the pt. know that he will need at least two more appointments.  And I get to use the Ultrasonic!  So, overall, it was a good day!  I just hope he will come back and be cooperative with the information I gave him today.  I also hopes he brings money next time!

{Samantha is finished!}

So, last night I called my class V pt. that I had scheduled to get her list of meds. to save some time at the appt.  Well, after she gave me all her meds., she then asked if she should r/s because she felt like she was coming down with a cold.  She said she had a Dr. appt., but just thought it would be better to r/s.  So, I found a day in a couple of weeks and got her sched.  So, I called my sister, and she saved the day!  She was able to come up and let me get her finished up.  So, going into it, my goal was to complete her by getting all four quads, sel pol, floss, and fluoride.  She really didn't have much build up at all, so it was a very easy cleaning.  It was good for me to be able to practice my instrumenting without having to navigate deep pockets and tons of calculus.  I did miss a few spots, all in the lower anterior.  For some reason, I didn't dry her teeth off to check for more calculus, and because of that, I missed them.  It was a good learning experience though.  I feel like the times when we do make mistakes and miss deposit, is when we learn the most!  Professor Costley was so nice and very helpful.  I was also able to pass off my exploring #1 PE.  Yahoo!

All in all, today was great!  It felt good to actually remove some calculus and get one patient under my belt!

{Will I ever get to scale???}

Well, today did go much smoother than Monday.  First off, I got to see my cute little sister!  Yay for that!  She was fun and kept me entertained the whole time!  Like when I was doing her extraoral exam, she kept laughing because her neck is ticklish.  Haha!  Anyway...my goal for today was to time myself with probing, so I have a baseline on knowing how to speed up, to be more thourough with my dental charting/intraoral exam, and to get one quad. scaled.  Well, I did time myself, and I was lucky enough to have Karen, the TA, chart for me!  Wow, what a difference it makes when somebody is charting for you!  It took me 15 minutes, which I know isn't great, but it's better than when I first started out.  When I was passing off my probing PE last semester, it took me 9 minutes to probe one quad with the instructor charting for me!  Haha!  I guess I have come a long way!  But unfortunately, I didn't get to scale.  I was more thorough on her intra/dental charting, so that is good.  There was only one or two spots that I didn't record redness.  I did 4 BWX and 1 PA using ScanX with one retake.  Because I had to wait for approval on my retake, that put me behind.  I did her OD and OHI, then sent her on her way.  She is coming back on February 8th.  My goal for then is to scale all 4 quads.  I would just like to speed up and actually be able to remove some calculus!!!  I definitely like Wednesday clinic WAY more because there is a lot of extra help!

{Ashley}

Today my good friend Ashley came in and let me play hygienist on her. What a good sport!  It didn't go as well as I was hoping, but I know I will just get better with time.  I was only able to get through an OD on her.  I got discouraged, because I didn't have to do x-rays because she is pregnant and I STILL didn't get to scaling.  My goal is to get all four quads done next time.  She is coming back for me on Feb. 1st, so hopefully I will have sped up a little by then. On a good note, I got to use my new loupes and LOVED them!  My cute sister is coming in on Wednesday and I'm way excited for that!  Hopefully that goes better!  I just need to get all the bugs and kinks out and get all this crazy stuff down!  Peace out!

{Back to School}

Well, today was our first clinic session being back from the break.  It wasn't too bad...pretty relaxed actually.  We learned how to use the Ultrasonic scaler and the Graceys.  I really think I will like the Ultrasonic.  It will be so so nice!  I got to practice using my loupes, and I think they are fabulous!  I can't believe what a difference they make!  I'm getting pretty excited/nervous for next week and seeing patients from here on out.  I just feel like I still have so much to learn and so much that I need to remember.  I just hope it all comes quickly and that I don't struggle a ton.  Well, here's to one of the last "easy" clinic days ever!  Peace out!