Today I saw a patient that my work gave to me. If there are any benefits to working while in the program this will definitely be one of them! This patient was seen at our office and was told he needed a SRP (scaling and root planing) but they didn't want to pay for it so they referred him to me. And I am so grateful they did because he is a class II patient!
I got my raidographs from my office and it was crazy how much calculus he has! There is radiographic calculus on every interproximal surface! So he will definitely be a fun but challenging patient. I was able to get one quad scaled today and he is scheduled back again so I can finish him.
He was such a great patient! He had a lot of patience and responded well to what I had to tell him. But it definitely took a lot of time to get off the calculus just because there was so much! It was fun I was able to use my ultrasonic and I really like it! It definitely is a time saver!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thank Goodness for Family!
That seems to be the theme for this week! Both my patients cancelled this week, and I quickly realized that that is the most stressful thing ever! If I ever have a heart attack it will be because my patient cancelled on me!
My Monday patient at least cancelled on Saturday and she had a legit reason. So I frantically called another patient and they couldn't come in, so my last resort was my sister. And I owe her! I am so glad that she agreed to come in, because I know it is a lot of time to take off work. She was great though. I was able to get another set of BWX's and I scaled two quads! She has healthy gums and not much calculus so it wasn't too bad. She might tell you otherwise though. I think she realized after laying back for three hours how much I really do owe her! But she did agree to come in so I can finish so that's good right!
Wednesday was a completely different story! I had called and confirmed my patients appointment on Monday, and he was totally okay with coming in and grateful that he was able to get an appointment. But on Wednesday morning at 5:30 AM I received a text saying, "I can't come. Sorry". I was like great, what am I supposed to do now! I couldn't call anyone since it was so early! So I resorted to my little brother. Who was surprisingly very happy to come in! He was mostly just glad that he was able to miss school! So he got the privilege of being the next trooper. And he definitely was! Three hours is along time for a little boy to sit in the same spot. I was able to get a set of BWX's and do six sealants! Which I can't complain about since that crosses off three more requirements!
All I have to say is that I am so grateful for my family and their willingness to help me out!! I love them so much!
My Monday patient at least cancelled on Saturday and she had a legit reason. So I frantically called another patient and they couldn't come in, so my last resort was my sister. And I owe her! I am so glad that she agreed to come in, because I know it is a lot of time to take off work. She was great though. I was able to get another set of BWX's and I scaled two quads! She has healthy gums and not much calculus so it wasn't too bad. She might tell you otherwise though. I think she realized after laying back for three hours how much I really do owe her! But she did agree to come in so I can finish so that's good right!
Wednesday was a completely different story! I had called and confirmed my patients appointment on Monday, and he was totally okay with coming in and grateful that he was able to get an appointment. But on Wednesday morning at 5:30 AM I received a text saying, "I can't come. Sorry". I was like great, what am I supposed to do now! I couldn't call anyone since it was so early! So I resorted to my little brother. Who was surprisingly very happy to come in! He was mostly just glad that he was able to miss school! So he got the privilege of being the next trooper. And he definitely was! Three hours is along time for a little boy to sit in the same spot. I was able to get a set of BWX's and do six sealants! Which I can't complain about since that crosses off three more requirements!
All I have to say is that I am so grateful for my family and their willingness to help me out!! I love them so much!
 |
| My Family! :) |
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
First Finished Patient!
I finished my first patient today! It definitely feels good to finish a whole patient and I realized I love return appointments! They are so much better than the initial appointment. I was able to bring my patient back and just start scaling away! No waiting for x-rays, no waiting for an OD check, I can just jump right in and go to town!
I saw what sheet calculus is like for the first time today. My patient didn't have a ton and it wasn't too tenacious, but I learned that you can use the toe of a curet to get the sheet calculus off. Plus another thing I learned is what orthodontic cement looks like on the tooth. It is very tricky and I don't like it! It looks like calculus and even goes chalky white when you dry it, but it is almost impossible to scrape off!! You can tell a difference because ortho cement goes kinda grayish when you scale it, while calculus doesn't. I was scaling this one tooth for like twenty minutes and it wouldn't come off. I asked my instructor about it because I didn't want it to count against me, and she told me that it was ortho cement and the ways to tell the difference.
I also passed off two PE's today, I kinda forgot about PE's last week and didn't pass any off. I wish I could totally forget about PE's! Actually the PE's this semester aren't as bad. Our instructor pretty much just watches how we are scaling and we don't have to worry about memorizing the PE's word for word like last semester. And most of the PE's are just repeats so we've done them once already.
I saw what sheet calculus is like for the first time today. My patient didn't have a ton and it wasn't too tenacious, but I learned that you can use the toe of a curet to get the sheet calculus off. Plus another thing I learned is what orthodontic cement looks like on the tooth. It is very tricky and I don't like it! It looks like calculus and even goes chalky white when you dry it, but it is almost impossible to scrape off!! You can tell a difference because ortho cement goes kinda grayish when you scale it, while calculus doesn't. I was scaling this one tooth for like twenty minutes and it wouldn't come off. I asked my instructor about it because I didn't want it to count against me, and she told me that it was ortho cement and the ways to tell the difference.
I also passed off two PE's today, I kinda forgot about PE's last week and didn't pass any off. I wish I could totally forget about PE's! Actually the PE's this semester aren't as bad. Our instructor pretty much just watches how we are scaling and we don't have to worry about memorizing the PE's word for word like last semester. And most of the PE's are just repeats so we've done them once already.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Day two down, however many more to go
Well I found a patient for today! My peer pal came through for me! She is amazing. I was talking to her on Tuesday about a patient and she said that she had a lady that likes to come in on Wednesday mornings. So I called her and she could! She was so sweet too! When I called to ask if she wanted to come in she became so excited and started thanking me! It had been a few years since she had been in so she really wanted to get in.
I was able to get another set of BWX's plus one PA! I was feeling pretty good! Every little bit helps towards my requirements. Plus she is two quads of a class two and two quads of a 1B. It would've been nice if she was all four quads of a class II, but I'll take what I can get.
She is probably one of my favorite patients. She was so nice and very grateful for everything. She has been through a lot in her life with one of her little boys, but she is still so strong and I am amazed at how she keeps on going. She was also very attentive to what I had to say and was really worried when I told her she had periodontal disease. She is determined to keep up on her oral health and to make sure she see's the dentist every six months.
I wasn't able to scale any quads today but that's okay because I felt like I was really able to talk to her and help her make some changes in her life. I look forward to being able to treat her again.
I was able to get another set of BWX's plus one PA! I was feeling pretty good! Every little bit helps towards my requirements. Plus she is two quads of a class two and two quads of a 1B. It would've been nice if she was all four quads of a class II, but I'll take what I can get.
She is probably one of my favorite patients. She was so nice and very grateful for everything. She has been through a lot in her life with one of her little boys, but she is still so strong and I am amazed at how she keeps on going. She was also very attentive to what I had to say and was really worried when I told her she had periodontal disease. She is determined to keep up on her oral health and to make sure she see's the dentist every six months.
I wasn't able to scale any quads today but that's okay because I felt like I was really able to talk to her and help her make some changes in her life. I look forward to being able to treat her again.
Monday, January 9, 2012
The Beginning...
Well it came, whether I was ready or not! I saw my first real patient today . I wanted to start out easy so my first patient was someone I knew and she was only a 1B. I was extremely nervous because it has been over a month since I have held a scaler and actually been in someones mouth, I was worried I wouldn't remember a thing! But surprisingly it came back and it felt almost like I never left!
Today was a good way to start out a new semester of clinic especially my first semester of patient treatment. My patient was cooperative and helped calm my nerves. I was able to check off a set of bitewing x-rays since I was able to take 4 films on my patient! I felt good about that because now I only have nine sets to take! No big deal right? :/ And I was very proud because I also scaled one quad!
I saw some new things today. My patient had a tongue thrust device on her two maxillary central incisors. I haven't ever seen one on an actual person. And I thought it was weird that she still had one on since she is in her late twenties. She said it has been there forever and they are mostly just annoying now. She doesn't tongue thrust anymore and I guess she's never had them removed. They did make it a little more difficult to scale around and to probe around, but for the most part they were okay.
Well today went smoothly and it's over now, so now all I have to worry about is finding a patient for Wednesday! :/ Anyone have any options?
Today was a good way to start out a new semester of clinic especially my first semester of patient treatment. My patient was cooperative and helped calm my nerves. I was able to check off a set of bitewing x-rays since I was able to take 4 films on my patient! I felt good about that because now I only have nine sets to take! No big deal right? :/ And I was very proud because I also scaled one quad!
I saw some new things today. My patient had a tongue thrust device on her two maxillary central incisors. I haven't ever seen one on an actual person. And I thought it was weird that she still had one on since she is in her late twenties. She said it has been there forever and they are mostly just annoying now. She doesn't tongue thrust anymore and I guess she's never had them removed. They did make it a little more difficult to scale around and to probe around, but for the most part they were okay.
Well today went smoothly and it's over now, so now all I have to worry about is finding a patient for Wednesday! :/ Anyone have any options?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The Last Day
DONE! That's pretty much all I have to say! I am officially done with clinic this semester. And boy does it feel great! I can't believe how fast it went by! At the first of the semester I thought I would never make it through the first week let alone the first semester! But I did and I am definitely ready for a break!
We went over the grading rubric for Tal-Eval and how we will be scored next semester with our patients. It was a little stressful to think of having to see actual patients next semester, but I don't want to think of that now. I just want to enjoy the break.
We also learned about emergency preparedness and how we are to react in different situations. I hope I don't have to ever deal with an emergency because I don't know if I'd be able to stay calm! And that is the first step, so I would definitely fail. It is definitely good to know though because I am less likely to freak out if I am prepared and know what to do.
Lastly we learned about CA (clinic assistant) duties. Which was pretty straight forward. We get the opportunity next semester to be the CA twice. We help out where needed, make new charts, sterilize instruments, answer calls, and the list goes on and on.
I have definitely learned SO much this semester. I look back on all that we've gone over and think, Wow! I do still have some improving to do but that will come with the next three semesters!
We went over the grading rubric for Tal-Eval and how we will be scored next semester with our patients. It was a little stressful to think of having to see actual patients next semester, but I don't want to think of that now. I just want to enjoy the break.
We also learned about emergency preparedness and how we are to react in different situations. I hope I don't have to ever deal with an emergency because I don't know if I'd be able to stay calm! And that is the first step, so I would definitely fail. It is definitely good to know though because I am less likely to freak out if I am prepared and know what to do.
Lastly we learned about CA (clinic assistant) duties. Which was pretty straight forward. We get the opportunity next semester to be the CA twice. We help out where needed, make new charts, sterilize instruments, answer calls, and the list goes on and on.
I have definitely learned SO much this semester. I look back on all that we've gone over and think, Wow! I do still have some improving to do but that will come with the next three semesters!
It's Here!
It came! After 15 weeks of learning different skills, they were finally put to the test today! It was our REAL patient day today! I'll admit, I was nervous for today! The thing that worried me the most is not having diagnostic radiographs and hurting my patient. Luckily I just messed up once and it was on my radiographs.
My peer pal was my first patient, and I am so glad it was her! It took away the stress of having to find a patient and making sure my patient actually showed up! I knew that she would be there and be on time! I was so relieved when she volunteered to be my patient. I wanted to just give her a big hug! Another bonus was that she was able to help me along, and give me pointers throughout the appointment.
All in all I felt pretty good about my patient treatment day. I felt like I was able to move through the flow of things nicely and quickly. I am so glad that I signed up for radiology first! I was able to have the room available when I wanted it and get them over with. I did struggle just a little on the radiographs. I had to do two retakes. I struggled getting the contact between 14 & 15 open. Professor Costley helped me finally be able to get it and of course it turned out perfectly! I learned that I can come a lot more mesially than I would think.
Probing also went faster than I was anticipating. Plus I got a few good pointers on how to improve my probing in the future. For the most part today was not as bad as I was anticipating! I was sure I was going to totally bomb the day. But I survived and got through everything I needed to for the day. Now I can relax and enjoy Thanksgiving! :)
My peer pal was my first patient, and I am so glad it was her! It took away the stress of having to find a patient and making sure my patient actually showed up! I knew that she would be there and be on time! I was so relieved when she volunteered to be my patient. I wanted to just give her a big hug! Another bonus was that she was able to help me along, and give me pointers throughout the appointment.
All in all I felt pretty good about my patient treatment day. I felt like I was able to move through the flow of things nicely and quickly. I am so glad that I signed up for radiology first! I was able to have the room available when I wanted it and get them over with. I did struggle just a little on the radiographs. I had to do two retakes. I struggled getting the contact between 14 & 15 open. Professor Costley helped me finally be able to get it and of course it turned out perfectly! I learned that I can come a lot more mesially than I would think.
Probing also went faster than I was anticipating. Plus I got a few good pointers on how to improve my probing in the future. For the most part today was not as bad as I was anticipating! I was sure I was going to totally bomb the day. But I survived and got through everything I needed to for the day. Now I can relax and enjoy Thanksgiving! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)