Real Patient Day

I think that everything went okay today. I was nervous at the beginning, but as we started things went better and I was able to relax. I was nervous about taking x-rays because I just don't feel as comfortable with them as I can, but it went well. I didn't even have to take any retakes.
It was nice for me to go through the OHI the way that I did today with someone that has learned the same things that I have. I was able to talk to my husband about the difference between gingivitis and perio and explain to him how they occur. I emphasized the importance of good OH in order to stay healthy.
I did miss a couple of spot scaling today which was disheartening, but Prof Alexander told me that they are commonly missed and taught me a couple of tricks to make sure to pick up those spots. I was just grateful to get to a scale a quad today. It was a very good experience and I did learn a lot.
All in all, a good day!!!

Mock Day

Katee was such a trooper. I had a really good experience with her and I am grateful that we were paired together. The day seemed to go very smooth and I was able to get almost everything done on time. I was late getting my OD check but there were a lot of restorations that needed to be documented which I was the most nervous about because when we practiced that in clinic I worked with Julie and her restorations are soooooo hard to see. I felt much better about it after working with Katee. After I had my OD things went well. I was able to scale a quad and get my scale check on time. I didn't miss anything either which made me feel great. I even walked her out at the right time.
Charting on the other hand took much longer. I tried to get my chart in on time, but by the time you chart the green sheet for someone with a lot of restorations your time is up. I can see how not using the laminated forms helps with that.
All in all, though, it was a great day and I was very lucky with my patient, and I feel much more prepared for my real patient.

Time to relax

So today was my day to be the patient. I was very excited that I was just going to have a day to relax and see again how things should work. Then.... about 1 hour into radiology this morning I starting to not feel good, and of course it carried over into clinic today. I felt so bad for Katee because I just started to really not feel good toward the end of the day. I had so much sinus pressure that it was very hard for me to lay back the way that I needed to. I do hope that it didn't cause problems for her. I tried really hard to stay down the way that I should have.
Katee did do a good job, though, and I was grateful to get to see her work today.
I do hope that I feel better tomorrow!!!!

Good Day

I would say that today was a very good day. The air powder polisher went much better than it did last time after we realized that you can adjust the setting on the powder.
I was a little nervous to do the sealant PE today. I don't have any experience doing them and I personally had someone leave an air pocket in one of my sealants which caused problems for me later. I am sure that I will become more comfortable with it as time goes on. It even felt more comfortable today than it did on Monday. Yea! I love it when I feel like I am taking steps in the right direction.
Everything else went well today. Alisha said that I didn't hurt her at all with the air powder polisher and she was able to turn the power up while using it on me and I didn't feel anything. I have a stain in one of the pits near the distal of #2. She was able to get some of the stain off today and I was grateful for that.
Again, all in all, a good day!

Air Powder Polisher and Sealants

I was excited to use the air powder polisher. As I used it on the penny I thought it was amazing. I was excited to see what it could do on a tooth, but I must be honest--- it was a little painful. I wasn't quite expecting it to work that way. I know that to remove stain you do need to use something quite abrassive, so as I think about it I know that it wasn't as abrassive as it could be.
The sealants went well. I didn't think that I had put as much sealant on as I did, but it did take a while to get it down to where it wasn't hitting wrong.
All in all, it was a good day and I feel like I learned a lot. I was also able to pass off a couple of PE's which went well and I was grateful to have two more out of the way and done. There are only a couple more in my binder. As I look back at everything that we have done I can't believe it. This semester has gone by so fast.
I don't feel like I am even close to perfect yet, but I know that I am better and less awkward than I was at the beginning of the semester.

Mock Patient Day-- I was the patient

Today was a nice day to relax but it was also great to see everything done again. I felt like things were more structured today even though everything should have been the same. It is always easier to sit and watch others do the task.
When I had the scale check done on me today, I learned about positions and also going back over it with the explorer after to see what was missed. I feel like I learned much more then the operator because I could feel exactly what was missed. I enjoyed today a lot.
I also enjoyed sharpening instruments. I was worried about it in class but the aid that was given made it really easy.

Mock Pt Day

Today went much better than I thought that it would. I do still feel a little lost about some of the timing, but practice makes perfect. I am feeling a little worried still about having a patient at the end of this month. It just seems so soon. I know that it is going to be fine, but I must say that even working on Savanna today I was very nervous. It took me probing about a quad before I stopped shaking beyond belief. I don't know why I was so nervous even though it was just a practice day, but I think I was because I have not probed for a while.
I am just grateful for those who are willing to help and for Savanna's patience with me today.

New Experiences

Everything today was new for me. I have not assisted in an office before like most others. I have never polished, brushed someone else's teeth, or flossed someone elses teeth. I enjoyed today as I was working with the instruments. I know that I need to practice some more, but I feel that way about everything.
After my pod partner disclosed again after I was done I found that my toothbrushing side was cleaner than the polished side. I tried polishing again to clean some areas and get some more practice, and I found that it took a little more pressure than I was using to get the biofilm off of the tooth.
Again, I felt good about the day, but I do need to opportunity to practice some more.

Anterior Instrumentation PE

I have been nervous for other PE's before, but I know that I have never been as nervous as I was today. I am not sure what happened, but I think that I lost my head and all senses along with it. I just feel like I was brand new and that nothing was coming very easily. It was very discouraging today, and I wish I knew why.
I am grateful for the patience of my instructors especially today because today I really needed it. I do feel sometimes that I will never be to the skill level at which they are now. They all make it look so easy. I know they have been doing it much longer, but I wonder if I will ever get there.
I do hope that Wed. goes better!

Barnhart

Today went okay. I did almost jump out of my seat when Katie literally screamed. I thought that I cut her with my instrument but she just has a sensitive tooth. She said that anytime metal touches it the tooth hurts. I did feel sooooo bad however, and I hope that I never have to experience that again. The instrument itself was good. I could feel that I do have a tendency to apply too much lateral pressure. I need to work on that. I need to do more of an exploritory until I actually find a deposit.
My PE's went well today. I feel like I have a good grasp on my instruments-- not how to use all of them, but to know theoretically what they are used for. I was also able to pass off the intraoral camera. I felt really good about that.
I would like to say again that I am grateful for patient instructors and TA's who are really willing to help and demonstrate when needed.
All in all, I would say that it was a pretty good day.

Good Day

I felt like today was a good day. It was nice to have a day to just practice scaling. I was grateful for the instruction that I received today. It was very helpful and made a lot of sense. I just hope that I can get my brain to move my hands the way that they should move.
The charting PE went well today. I feel much more confident in my abilities to actually chart a patient. I am not 100% confident with recording everything on the treatment record, but I am sure that will come with time, practice, and real patients.
Again, today was a good day, and it was one that I needed!!!

Things that I need to work on

The number one at the top of my list and the one that I am focused on at the moment is my adaptation into the interproximal areas. I always want to adapt in a smooth transition, but I don't take into account that the tooth curves much more quickly then I would like it to.
Scaling today was okay-- still need to work on my instrument roll...
I didn't get a lot of time to practice, so I don't feel very confident with it yet. Everyone keeps telling me that the confidence will come, so I suppose that I need to have faith in those with experience. It is hard to start something new, though. My brain tells me that I want to be much better than I am, but my hands tell me another story.
My probing PE went okay today. I was a little nervous with my instructor looking over my shoulder, but I got through it. I still need to work on my tactile sensitivity, however, so that I am not hurting whoever is in my chair. My grasp and fulcrums felt much better today, though. Even small steps give me some encouragement.

I still need a lot of practice

Today was an okay day. I know that I understand the theoretical aspect of what we are doing. I know why we do what we do and it all makes sense to me in theory, but I really to need to work on the application.
I did pass off my explorer PE today, and I did okay. I did not do as well as I would have liked. I know that I can't expect to be perfect, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to be. I want it to be natural and easy. I want to be able to do everything that I am suppose to do without worrying about hurting my patient. I want my hands to move the way that they are suppose to. I just want to feel confident in my abilities which I don't feel that I am.
It can be frustrating when I feel that I am putting everything that I can into it. I know that I need to study and practice more, but there are just not enough hours in the day. Between a family, school, and working full time I just don't feel like I have anything else to give.
I just want my hands to understand as much as my head does---- is that too much to ask?!!!

Practice Day

I have to admit that when I saw on the schedule that today was a practice day I was excited. I thought that I would be able to work on exploring to get ready for the PE on Monday, and that we would have a day to breath. In the pod instruction this morning my concept of today changed completely. As Prof Costley was talking about all that we needed to do today I started to feel very overwhelmed. It seemed like soooo much all in one day.
When we went back to our pods and started to work on the list of "to dos" I felt like I was moving much too slow and as I looked at all of the forms that I needed to fill out my mind started to race.
As we got going, though, it didn't seem that bad. I do need to work on my probing, however. I know that I am much too slow. I felt bad that I left less time for Katie because I was about 5 min over, and still had to have my OD check.
So what can I say about Practice Day... in the end looking at what we did it was good practice. I feel like I know now a little better about what steps need to go in what order. I am one who has to feel organized or I get overwhelmed, so it was good to go through what we did today, but I do need to work on going faster in order to get everything done.

Disclosing

To be honest, I was a little afraid of the disclosing soluation today. In a room full of people who take VERY good care of their teeth it had the possibility to be a little embarrassing. Everything worked out well, however. My mouth was much cleaner than I thought it would be. I do need to work on my flossing-- anterior mandibular teeth, but beyond that I feel that I do a good job. My teeth may not be as white as everyone else's, but I do know that they are clean. That is a happy day!!!
I still need to work on my exploring. It is much harder than the instructors make it look. I do think that Prof. Costley's idea of taking it home and practicing on myself is necessary for me to understand. The adapting angle just comes up on me soooo quickly and I know I don't turn my instrument quickly enough. Practice, practice, practice!!!!
I would like to know why every time that I practice my PE's I can do them without a hitch, but everytime that an instructor is in the pod my mind desides to go blank. I don't know why my body does that. Isn't it just the same information that I practiced? Don't I still know what I am doing? Then why does being put on the spot change everything?
All in all, though, I would say that it was a good day

Finding composits

I had a very hard time today finding the composits on Julie. I was getting very frustrated and feeling like I am not going to be able to do this. I know that I am probably hard on myself but it is difficult not to be when everyone around you seems to get it so easily. It wasn't until Prof Costley came over and had a hard time finding them as well that I started to feel a little better, but even now I am not sure if I know exactly what I am looking for. I really dislike feeling lost...
Other than my inability to see the things that everyone else sees with no problems today was a good day. I was running late this morning but I made it to clinic and set up everything on time. I was able to pass off the intraoral PE. There was even an area in which I graded myself as a 3 and my TA gave me a 4. It made me feel good that she thought I did a good job.
I really can't wait until I look like a second year in their abilities and feel like I know what I am doing.

Probing attempt #2

Today was MUCH better than later Wed. I felt more comfortable and it didn't feel nearly as uncomfortable. I am still a ways away from perfect but that hike doesn't feel impossible today. I am glad that Katie was willing to help and let me know when I was pushing too hard. I know that I need to lightly my grip on the instrument and that will help with the feel and the attachment area.
I passed off my mirror and fulcrum today and I felt really good about that. I didn't really have to think about my positions-- I did have to about my tooth numbers which I am still working on, but not the positions themselves. I am progressing and I am happy about that, but like I said I still don't feel like I would be ready to have a patient. I am still quite nervous about that every time that I think about it.
Well, another day down and it was a good one!!!

Probing

To be very honest today was a hard day. I don't know why I struggled the way that I did. I was more nervous then I have been. I had even more trouble getting my angles and fulcrums then I did with my explorer, and I really hesitated and struggled with my direct vision. I felt like I was back at square one and I am now more nervous about having a real patient in a few weeks. I don't mean to be so negative... today was just a harder day. I know what I need to practice!!!!! I do hope that it will come together soon.
I am grateful for the TA's and their willingness to help and their understanding when I get a little frustrated. I was also grateful for an understanding partner whom I know that I hurt and I feel terrible.
Well, I will work on getting through this week and come in fresh on Monday afternoon-- I am sure that a lot of praying wouldn't hurt either.

Exploration

Well, where to begin... it seemed like a good day today. The use of the explorer on the Dexter was great. I seemed to be getting a hang of things except for the lingual portion of the pt's upper left. I struggled getting my hands to fulcrum in the correct way. When we moved to my pod partner, however... I guess that things still went well, but I was very nervous that I was going to hurt her. Prof Costley told me that my insertion angles were good. I do need to work on lifting my neck better in order to reach that col area. The hardest part of today for me was the indirect vision. It is very hard to work backward that way. I definately need to practice that.
My posture is getting better, I think. It is nice to be taking steps in the right direction even if they are small.

Good Day

We worked with the explorer today and practiced are fulcrums. I must say that I didn't realize there was so much involved in hygiene. I have been to the dentist soooooo many times throughout my life but it didn't ever dawn on me that there was a special way to hold the instrument, a special way to sit, to hold your head, your eyes... need I keep going. It all makes sense and I am grateful that we are learning all of this. I just don't want to forget anything for the benefit of my patient as well as myself.

I felt okay today, however, with the explorer and the positioning. The fulcrum for the right maxillary buccal was something to think about. I do need to practice. My husband is going to love me SOOOO much more by the time I am out of the program.

Intra-oral exams

Clinic today went okay. I do still feel a little awkard sitting in my chair while working on a patient. I have never been able to do the splits, and I am beginning to wonder if my body will ever be able to move that way. Last night I practiced doing the splits. I still need a lot more practice. The exam went well and I feel okay about everything that we are supose to be looking at. I do need to study my terms, however, so I recognize them by the name and not just the location. Angie was great and helped a lot.

September 10, 2008

I had a good clinic day even though I got off to a rough start. I think that I am going to get a parking ticket because I couldn't find my pass this morning. I think that it is crazy they can make the side of the road part of a W lot. Anyway, back to clinic... I was able to pass off the PE that I wanted today which is always nice. I also enjoyed having the extra-oral exam done this morning. It helped to calm me down from my parking issue. I thought the mirror PE was a good thing and I didn't realize that there was so much that a mirror was used for and technique to it. I will have to get used to that.
I also practiced my BP again today and it went much better. Julie sat with me and listened along to verify that what I was hearing was the right thing. I am so greatful for our TA's!!!! I still need to practice but I don't feel completely off base.

Here we are again

Monday clinic was good. I was able to pass off two PE's which is always a really nice feeling. I did struggle a little with the blood pressure. I have never taken a BP before and I was having a hard time hearing what I needed to hear (or thought that I needed to hear). I definately need to practice. I am greatful for pod partners that are understanding and willing to let me practice.

Week 2

Well, I did survive the first week, and it was extremely nice to have a long weekend. I feel like I was able to organize myself a little. I don't feel quite so overwhelmed, but I don't feel completely in control yet either. I am hoping that comes sooner then later. When it comes to school I can admit that I am very type A.
Clinic this week was good. I felt like I knew what was going on. I know that I don't completely understand and know everything yet and I have a bunch of questions all of the time, but I didn't feel as lost. I was also able to pass off two of my PE's-- PPE and the Equipment Maintenance. It always feels good to get those out of the way. I was also excited to have a chart. Everyday it feels like my dental hygiene experience is becoming more real. I talked about the program for a while and waited a year to get into the program, so it is exciting that it is all becoming reality. I can't see enough either that I really enjoy my lab TA's. They are so helpful and I am grateful to have them.

2nd day of clinic

Today seemed much better. I read all of the material before class so I felt like I knew what I was doing-- at least a little. I was also able to pass off my Eaglesoft PE. I felt really good about it. For some reason though I seem more nervous about all of the other PE's. I guess I am just more familiar with a computer then with the dental chair. I know that will change soon enough.
My instructor and TA today were wonderful. They were a great help and I felt very comfortable talking to them and asking questions. I am glad that I am not in this alone.
Well, have to run-- got to study!!!!

Day 1

Today was a long day full of A LOT of information. I do feel a little overwhelmed. I also don't have any experience to talk of so I felt lost at times. The PE's are also a little frightening to me. I hope I don't get behind. Nothing like jumping in with two feet!!!
I have heard and do hope that gets better. I know that this will be a very good experience and I am so grateful to be here, but right now it just seems like a lot to take in.

First Post

I am here and excited to be starting but a little scared... There is nothing like starting something new!