First Patient

Today was awesome. My patient was a bit noncompliant but I made it through. I learned alot and Instructor Vinning was very helpful to help me learn these things. Next time hopefully I will be more effecient and able to do more and do better. I can't believe this semester is almost over and if feels like today was like the last real day of clinic. It was great to pass off my last PE. This has been a great semester. Wahoo!!!

Emergency Prepardness

Today we had three stations that we rotated through to learn different procedures. When it comes to an emergency it is crucial that we know what we are doing. The most important thing is that we know the health history for each patient and know what to do when something goes wrong. It was good to learn where things are kept in the clinic and where to find them. It was also beneficial to know some specific procedures and how to react. Then we had time to pass off any PE's that we need to and time to practice on each other. I can't believe this is the last Monday in November. Its going to be a great week. I am excited to see my first patient on Wednesday. Oh yeah!

Mock Patient Day

Today was really fun and a great learning experience. I got here and set up for my patient and then Mrs. Campbell called on the intercom that my patient was here. I learned alot with this experience. It was good to look at the little details that sometimes get over looked in the mist of things. Now I am feeling more ready to see my first "real" patient on the 28th of this month. Since I don't know him, I hope it will go well. I got everything done and cleaned up just in time. Great day!

Almost there!

Today we learned PSR. It is a system of probing using sextants. I probed Katie. It was good to get back in there and probe again. I passed off lots of PE's today. I also sharpened my instruments. It was fun to use the air-powder polisher again, even though Katie doesn't like it. Hehehe. It was so fun to do sealants again. I did it on Anna today and Jeff was my assistant. It was great. Next clinic will be mock patient. Yeah!!

Sealants

Wow!! Today I placed my first sealant. It was fun to learn the procedure. I was able to practice. A dentist looked in my mouth today for the first time in almost a year. Aahahaha. Well I got a sealant placed on #20. When the bite is high you use a 17/18 to adjust it. It was fun. I also passed off some PE's today. I can't believe that the semester is almost over. It is NUTS!!

Getting ready to roll

Today we used the air poweder polisher. This thing is like a sand blaster!! It spays sodium bicarbonate with air and water. When applied to the tooth surface it removes stains. You have to be careful not to hit the gums or other restorative structures because it hurts and can be damaging. I passed off my PE and pacticed polishing and how it would be charted. I am looking forward to seeing my first patient in a couple of weeks.

Oh baby!!

Today we learned how to sharpen our instruments. That was challenging to get the right edge at the right angle. The day continued to get more exciting as we learned how to use the ultra sonic. The water we everywhere. It was so much fun to use such a powerful instrument and see the quick results. In pod rap-up we went over everything we learned. We only worked on our typodonts today and not each other.

Swapin' pod partners

Today we were each assigned a new partner to work on. I worked on Camille and then she worked on me. It was a really good day to practice adapation with various instruments. Now that we know what they are called and their primary purpose and where they are used. Its fun to see how it all comes together and works. Some of the positions are harder than others but its good to get a feel for all of them.

Scaling

Today we went over instrument identification. I learned a good way to remember that a 13/14 is for distal and 15/16 is for mesial. We learned what makes them area specific or universal. We had lots of time to practice using the different instruments and the diffent angles. We learned the oblique stroke the horizontal and the vertical. I passed off a PE. In one month I will have a real patient in my chair. I am excited to try scaling on enamel because the typodont just isn't cutting it. (Pun intended) Practice, practice, practice! Patience.

Patient from Eagle soft!!

Today I got here, and got all set up and ready to go by 8:00. Kristin was my patient. It was fun to see in a new mouth. The funniest part was when she looked in mine and thought my papillary ducts were cheek bites. I almost died of laughter. Prof. Costley was laughing too. Pretty darn funny. I probed one quad and disclosed and charted all the information. We also learned about the intra-oral camera.

SCALING!!!!

Today we painted white out on the typodont and used the scalers to see what it will be like to scale calculus. Then we took turns working on each other. This was exciting especially for Katie!! Hahahaha. I also passed off the probe PE. My measurements were really close and it was exciting to see that. My mouth was probed and that was sad because I do have pockets and it makes me sad. It was a good day in clinic and we are coming right along. Learning, Learning, Learning!!

Exploring

Today I passed off my explorer PE. I was so excited. Its making more and more sence and I'm feeling more comfortable doing it. I still am shaky though. I also probed and did a BFI and PFI. Then we went through all our instruments and learned what they are and how/where to use them. It was exciting stuff to learn.

OHI

Today we stained each others mouth and figured out the PFI. It was great fun. Then I learned more about how to use the explorer and it was really helpful to see it again and to practice more. It was beneficial to get instruction from different people. It was a very long but nice day. I learned a lot and it feels great!

Dental Screening

Today we learned more about how to fill out charts. We went through what each thing means. Today really flew by. We got to practice again and its all starting to come together and make more sence. Its fun to learn and feel comfortable do it. My goal for Wednesday is to pass of the next three PE's. I feel like I am ready to do them, we just ran out of time to do them today.

More probing

Today I practiced probing on Anna. I did a full mouth probe and recorded it. It was really good practice and it seems to be getting easier or more natural. I passed off my eagle soft PE and some other ones. Clinic is going really good and I am progressing and learning lots. It has been helpful learning stuff in clinic and then refreshing my memory by filling out the case study.

Probing

Wahoo!!! Today I probed on my first patient. First we practiced angulation and fulcrum on the typodont and then we worked on our pod partner. It was easier to catch onto then exploring (for me). Maybe I was just more comfortable because its not as sharp as an explorer. I also am able to see as I probe the gum that it turn slightly white and I can feel that I don't need to push any more. I like the light grasp. The hardest spot to reach (and see) is numbers 2, 15, 18, 31. I charted the numbers on the green laminated sheet and circled the ones that bled.

Exploring

Today I worked in Vickie's mouth. Using the explore and trying to get the right end and not poke the gums. It was really good and I have to practice and be patient with myself. I know I can get it, but not on my first try. I am positive that over time it will feel more and more natural and become easier. I did pass off 2 PE's today which was my goal.

Adaption and Angulation

I learned so much today. It will take some practice to get the feel of instrumentation. I practiced on Katie. I tried really hard to focus on my movements and grip. I practiced rotating and making sure to only use the tip-third of the working end. Tried to adapt the instrument around the tooth without poking the gums. I worked on same arch fulcrum points and Wednesday I will pass off that PE. It was a great learning day.

Intra oral examinations

Today I learned how to identify any intra oral lesions. I used a probe to measure the circumfence and noted color, size, shape, texture and so forth. I was able to pass of some PE's and I am feeling good about things. I really enjoy clinic and I am learning a lot and have a lot more to learn!!

Extra Oral Screenings

Today was a big learning day! I learned how to do extra oral screenings checking for any lumps or bumps or sensitivity. Then I had a patient in my chair and I learned the four uses of a mirror. I also learned positioning and fulcrum. It is going to take some practice to get comfortable in these positions. I had a very productive day.

Vital Signs

Today we covered vital signs and reviewed some health history. We took turns practicing taking blood pressure on each other. This was a FUN(ny) experience!! With a little practice we will be like pro's. Then we did the print outs and started practicing to pass off more PE's. Feel like I learned a lot today.

Health History

Today we went over health history. First I did one in Spanish which was fun and exciting. I looked up medications in the dental drug reference book. Then my pod partner and I took turns filling each others health histories out. We learned how to greet patients and help answer question or concerns they have about their health history.

Student Clinical Assignments

Learning how to create a treatment plan helped me see how things are done in the office. We split into groups and learned about the different methods of sterilization and how they are done. I made myself a patient chart. Then we went over charting and the CA information in the clinic manual. I was able to pass off 3 PE's today.

Clock positions

In clinic today we learned clock positions and where and which teeth to clean for each position. It was fun to have a typo-dont to practice on. I also passed off my first PE on personal protective equipment. It was fun but my mind drew a blank and so next time I know to go through it a few more times.

First day of Clinic

Today was fun. We got familiar with the clinic and where things are kept. We got our lab coats and clinic manual. I hope that I can remember everything to pass off the PE's.

Back to School

I did it! I made my first post.