Perio assessment

Today we learned periodontal assessment and bleeding free index. Assessing the gingiva was a little harder than I thought it would be. Maybe that was because my partner has such healthy tissue that anything I saw that was a slight variation I thought might be something. It turned out some of it was a little bit of marginal and/or papillary redness, so I guess I was right but I was not so sure of myself. I need to have a little more confidence in myself, I feel like I just don't know anything and in all reality I know more than I think I do. I just need to be more confident that I know what I'm doing. And I say this everyday but, I hope that it will become easier as I practice more and become a little more experienced.

PROBING!!!!

So today in clinic we learned how to probe. I totally thought this would be a lot easier than it really was. I really have a hard time with remembering to angle the probe so it goes with the contour and shape of the tooth. And I thought that probing the buccal was hard, the lingual is like ten times worse because I am still not used to indirect vision. We only probed one quadrant, the upper right, and it tool me like half an hour. I also was struggling with reading my probe, especially through my mirror. It was difficult to see where it was. It helped when I started counting backwards from the big black mark. I was also having trouble with my mirror in my nondominant hand. I was paying so much attention to probing and not stabbing that I would cram my mirror into my partner's guns and it would hurt her. I guess I am not a very good multitasker. Hopefully after a lot of practice it will be second nature and I won't have to think about everything I am doing. I can only hope!!

Learning how to explore!

Today in clinic we started using our explorers on dexter and on each other. It was really fun to actually get in the mouth and do some hands on. It was also a little nerve racking because I was so worried about poking or stabbing my pod partner(sorry Alyse). Overall it was really fun. Alyse was a lot of help to me, while I was exploring she would not hold anything back, which I greatly appreciated. She told me everytime I poked her and evertime I did something good. It was a great learning experience and I look forward to becoming a pro!!

Getting Better in Clinic

Well, it's the middle of week four. Monday's clinic we did intra-oral assessment, and I had a lot of fun doing it. I was able to assess two of my fellow pod-mates. I read through the PE but I was not sure what some of the landmarks were. After going over it as a pod I somewhat felt like I knew what they were. One of them that I was really struggling with was the tonsillar pillars. I had no clue what these were, where they were, or what they looked like. Luckily I have a great lab partner(Alyse) who was an ideal patient. I could see her tonsillar pillars, her tonsils, her oropharynx, and uvula so clearly and now I know exaclty what and where they are.
On tuesday I went to the 2nd year clinic and I was able to observe Kristin Balls. We kind of got off to a rough start because her patient didn't show; luckily there was a couple walk-ins that needed cleanings so I was able to watch and learn. It was a great experience and I would like to go back several times becasue I learned so much. I finally got to see how all the PEs we've been learning go together and the order of things. I am really (for once) that we had this as one of our assignments, because what better way to learn than watching how it is to be done.
So Wednesday, today, in clinic we went over fulcruming with our dominant hand with an instrument. At first it was a little tricky but as I pracitced on the typodonts and on each other I think I was getting the hang of it. It also made me realize I need to practice my operator positioning some more, I got thrown off a bit. Overall it was a good time in clinic today.

Fun in Clinic

Yesterday in clinic I set a goal for myself to get to clinic on time and set up my unit and be ready to go before clinic started. I almost accomplished this goal. I was there early but the clinic was locked so I thought I couldn't go in there. So I sat out in the hall and waited for an instructor or professor to come by. Later I found out that I should know the code to punch in the door for it to unlock. Oh, well I know that for next time. I also wanted to pass of at least one PE and I did, I actually passed off two. I like to stay ahead on my PEs so I don't feel as stressed out.
I had a lot of fun in clinic today, we learned how to hold our mirror in our left hand and an instrument in the other. It was a little awkward holding the mirror in my nondominant hand but I'm sure I will get used to it with time. We also worked on fulcruming and that was a little more challenging than I thought it would be, but again all things come with time.
I am happy to report, at the end of my third week, I am feeling more comfortable with everything and I am really enjoying myself. I am so glad I have so many new friends that I can share this new and exciting experience with!!!

Two Weeks Down!!

Two weeks Down!! After two weeks of class and clinic I have 4 PEs passed off and I feel like I'm finally on top of things. Today at clinic we took vital signs. At first I was really struggling with my equipment and couldn't figure it out. I finally realized my stethescope was not turned the right way, so I couldn't hear at all. After fixing the operator error I was able to take my pod partner's blood pressure. It took awhile to get used to taking blood pressure, pulse, and respiration but after some practice I felt a lot more comfortable. We also went over treatment plan on eagle soft, at first I was a lillte nervous because I am not used to working on this or any dental program. After going through it as a class and then by myself I found it to be really quite user friendly and very simple to use.

Yesterday at clinic I was way nervous about doing the health histories. In class it wasn't too clear to me the difference between the HHx,the HHxRx, and the StatusRx. When we started going over the HHx and HHxRx in our pods it really finally started making sense to me.Then when we actually got to put it into practice by doing our pod partner's, I finally was able to grasp it a little better. I still need A LOT of practice but I am glad that I am feeling more comfortable. I am so glad that we have instructors and TAs to help us, their help is very much appreciated!!!