Family to the Rescue.... Again!

I don't think anyone goes through the dental hygiene program without the help of their family. I know I would have failed multiple patient experiences if it wasn't for my family! I am so grateful for them and love them so much.

Today it was my Grandpa that came to the rescue. I had a hard time trying to find a patient for today so I called my Grandma and she said they would love to come in. I was so grateful! It has been a few years (5 years to be exact) since my Grandpa had been to the dentist. So I was hoping that he would possibly qualify as a class III.

I was able to do x-rays (both BWX and PA) and I got one quad of a class III. I was really grateful for this because the rest of his mouth was a class V! So only one more quad of a class III left to do and I am in the clear for my requirements! I was talking to Sierra today and she is cleaning a patient on Monday that has one quad of a class III, and she doesn't need it so she is going to let me clean that quad! Which will be fantastic and I will be finished with my requirements!!

A Blessing in Disguise

Sometimes a patient cancelling at 5 am feels like a mini heart attack--sometimes it's a blessing in disguise.

The same patient that cancelled at 5 am last time did it again! What I don't get is why is he up that early and not able to make it to the appointment? He never even gives an excuse it's just,  "Sorry, I can't come today". Oh well it turned out to be better that he didn't come.

My last brother got the opportunity to get his teeth cleaned. It's good that it was my morning clinic since my brother has soccer in the afternoon so it wouldn't have worked out as well. It was also a great day because I got soo much done!!

I took 4 BWX's and 4 PA's, scaled all 4 quads, and placed a sealant. Plus I didn't miss any spots! It was great! Today was a good confidence builder for me as well. I realized I know what I am doing and I am getting better and faster!

Class V in One

Well I did it! I finished a patient in one appointment! It was the best feeling! My patient didn't want to have x-rays so that helped out a little, but still I finished him!

I got this patient from the resource list and I had a hard time getting a hold of him at first. I had the wrong number so I wasn't able to schedule him for an appointment. But I eventually did get a hold of him and I was able to find an appointment for him. He was a very nice man as well, and he had just gotten back from California. His wife is a painter so she goes and paints out in California for the winter.

He was a class V patient and I knew this coming into it. I was a little stressed that I wouldn't be able to schedule him back for another appointment since I'm getting down to the wire, so it was definitely a blessing to be able to finish him in one appointment. Plus it's four quads that will add to my total!

Check it off

Well I finished another patient today! This patient is probably one of my favorites! She is the nicest person and so sweet. I have really enjoyed getting to know her. This is definitely one of the benefits of clinic-- I get to meet new people and I really start to care for them and their oral health.

I just had to finish two quads so I knew it would be more of a relaxed day. I was able to take it easy and pass off a few PE's. It's nice to have a day where I don't have to be so stressed about getting through an OD, taking x-rays, and hoping I can do it fast enough so I can get to a few quads.

I can't believe how fast this semester is going by! I only have about a month left! It is so crazy! I have learned so much this year and made lot's of new friends. I am so excited for the future and for the experiences I will continue to have in the program!

Just Another Day in Clinic

Well like the title says, it was just another day in clinic today. I was a little nervous at first that my patient wouldn't show. This is the patient that texted me at 5 in the morning saying he couldn't come. So all morning I had my cellphone clutched in my hands just waiting and praying that I wouldn't get that text. And I didn't, and he showed up!

I was able to get x-ray 4 BWX and 4 PA's done! I was given a brilliant tip on how to get my PA's. Ashlee told me that I should suggest to my patients that we do PA's of the front teeth to check for cavities. Most people don't question it and they are beneficial since we usually don't radiograph the anterior teeth. It's genius!! Now I don't have to stress about getting my PA's done!

I will have to schedule my patient again because I wasn't able to finish. I am still waiting for that day when I don't have to schedule two appointments for 1B's! It will come and it's my goal to get it done this semester!

Car Troubles = No patient!

The thing I hate most about clinic is that no matter how many times you call a patient to confirm you still have zero control over whether or not they really show up! My grade is dependent on whether or not my patient feels like coming, is healthy enough to come, runs into problems or just forgets! I don't like not being in control of my own grade!

My patient today ran into some car troubles. And I try to give my patients the benefit of the doubt and believe what they tell me but sometimes it is hard. They have not shown up before because they had car troubles (about 3 weeks ago) and Sierra had just talked to the mom about 2 hours before and she had mentioned that her son was getting a ride with a friend. So when I called her about 15 mins after her son was supposed to be at the clinic she told me he won't be coming because of the car problems. So who knows what it really was but I'll be kind and hope they can get their car fixed.

My brother ended up being my patient today. I was really unsure whether I would be able to finish him or not because he got there about 45 mins late. I didn't have to do x-rays so that was nice and gave me some extra time. I just told myself to probe like I've never probed before!

I was able to finish him and it was great! But I learned today that sometimes family can be the worst patients! He was kinda funny to watch but a little frustrating to work on! But I finished and got four quads of a 1B so I can't complain too much!

Smoking--No Bueno!

Today I had a patient that I didn't know. Sierra was kind enough to give me a patient since she knew I didn't have one scheduled for today. It was the brother of her patient. I was planning on him being a class 1B, but that didn't happen. The appointment turned out different than what I had planned--which was a good thing!

So my patient was a smoker... my first smoking patient. And can I just say I do not like working on smokers. I felt like I smelt like I had been smoking for days after! I knew smokers breath was strong I just didn't know it would last so long.

There is some good news in this story! I was able to take full mouth! Which was a miracle since I have been stressing about my x-rays. That means I got 14 PA's!! It felt so good to be able to cross off all of them! I was able to also get one quad scaled which I thought was an accomplishment since the x-rays took awhile to do.

I'm looking forward to Wednesday because we have a lab and I don't have to worry about a patient! It definitely will be a nice break!