MY FIRST REAL PATIENT

Yesterday I had my first real patient come in. My wonderful mother came in for me and was the best patietn ever. I was a little worried but soon into the appointment I felt a little better. I took some x-rays and that went very well, I didn't have to take any retakes so I was glad about that. I never did get to do any scaling but overall it was a great experience and I learned so much from it. I t was great to actually go through and do everything in order from begining to end. I made a few dumb mistakes but I was really nervous so hopefully things will get better and better. I am so glad my mom was my patient, I had a great time!

Mock Patient Day

Today we had another mock patient day, I was so nervous for some reason. Last time I did not know really what was going to happen so I had no time to worry and prepare. This time, I have been worrying all week for it. Well, it is finally over. I have to say I thought I would feel a little better after it was over. I just don't feel like I am very good today, I don't know if I just had a bad day or if I just suck at scaling. The appointment started out okay. Staci was my patient and I had to redo the HHx and I had quite a bit to write. So right off the bat I felt like I was behind everyone else. So then I took her vitals and they were great. I then began with the OD. I felt like I was going out of order with this, I really don't know if there is a certain order you are suppose to go in. Anyway then I started probing and that took my FOREVER!!! I didn't think it was going to take me that long, so once again I felt like I was behind. So then when I was finally done with that and got my OD check, I moved on to OHI, but didn't have much time so I quickly moved on to scaling. I felt like I hadn't done this in awhile so I felt out of practice and quite awkward. I hope with more practice I will feel more comfortable with everything especially scaling. I only got one quadrant done and after my scale check I missed 3 spots of calculus. That might not be very many but I felt like she didn't really have any in the first place so the only 3 spots she had calculus I missed! Oh, well, I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and realize that this stuff takes time to get the hang of. I am glad my mom will be my first real patient, I will feel comfortable around her and hopefully I won't be as nervous. I know she will be honest with me and let me know everything that hurts her. Today wasn't the best day for me but I am going to be hopeful and think that I will eventually get better.

Another Mock Patient Day

Today I was a patient all day long, it was great. Staci was working on me today and she did awesome!! I really like having someone else work on me because it helps me to realize some of the things I need to work on and do better on. It makes me understand what it is like to be the patient and what hurts and what doesn't. I am really excited to treat my first real patient next week. I am scared but excited, I hope I will be able to see some calculus so I know what it feels like and see if I can really remove it. I am glad my mom is going to be my first patient because I will be more comfortable around someone I know. I am glad I get one more day to practice on someone and go through the entire process like they are a new patient. I am really loving this program and I am so glad that my first semester is almost over!

SO MANY PE'S

Today was kind of crazy. We had 3 PE's to pass off and that really seemed like a lot at first. When we got going it wasn't too bad. We passed off the air powder polisher, and let me tell you that was a blast to do again, NOT. My pod partner accidentally sprayed underneath my tongue and it stung really bad and then it began to bleed, it was not so fun. Anyway, we also had to pass off the sealant PE and the instrument shrpening PE. The sealant one went pretty good considering I had only placed one other sealant before in my life and that was only two days ago. The sealants really aren't as hard as I thought it might be. I think the hardest part is to keep the tooth isolated and dry the entire time. The sharpening will have to come with time and practice. It is not the easiest thing to do but it isn't the hardest either. I'm sure it will come with time and someday I will hopefully be as good as Professor Costley and be able to memorize the angles and be able to do it with my eyes closed. Well, I am glad today is over and I have 3 more PE's passed off, we only have one left!!! I can't believe it, this semseter has gone by so fast!

Air/Powder Polishing AND Sealants

Today was a busy day. We started off by using the air/powder polisher. It was way weird and awkward. I have never seen one of these things before nor have I aver had one used on me so it was quite an experience. At first we tried it out on polishing a penny. I chose a really nasty looking penny so I could really see a difference. IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!! I could not believe how easily and fast it shined the penny right up. I thought "oh this won't hurt in your mouth, it doesn't hurt my fingers", well I was wrong. When Alyse started polishing my teeth it really hurt my gums. Then some got shot onto my tongue and that stung even worse. It also tasted horrible! It was not the most desirable thing I have ever been through.
Next we did sealants, I was a little worried about this at first, but then I did my very first one and I wasn't bad at all, I had a really good patient though. I was able to keep the tooth dry and etch it, then put the sealant material in, then cure it. I was pretty proud because my first sealant was a little high but other than that it was perfect.
Then after luch we had radiology, like always I had a wonderful time. We learned how to work the panoramic x-ray machine and we learned how to duplicate films. I have taken several panos before so that wasn't anything new to me, well I guess it was a different machine than I am used to so I had to learn how to work it. I did not know you could duplicate films so that was really interesting to learn how to do. I love that we get to try our best to get a good film and then we get to see what fun ways we can mess it up. I tried duplicating two films at once. The first film worked great(the one that was closest to the original film) but the second one was totally black because no light was able to reach it.
It was anther fun Monday, and now it is finally over and we only have 4 more Mondays left in the semester, YEAH!!

Patient Day

Today was another mock patient day, but I got to be the patient! I enjoyed today very much. I thought it was really nice having someone different working on me because it is nice to know that other people are at the same skill level as I am. I learned things that I can do better and hopefully I was able to help Casey out a little bit too by giving her feedback. I think it is really important to give each other feedback so we know what we are doing right and what we can work on a little more. I think clinic is so much fun and I just like to see how we are all progressing a little bit at a time. After this mock patient experience, I have to say that I feel a lot more confident about myself and my abilities. I feel like I will do just fine, I will still need a ton of help, but I am getting the hang of it.
Classes are going good. For the most part I think I am doing really well and the semester is winding down already and before I know it, it will be Christmas break and our first semester as dental hygiene students will be over. We only have like three more tests and a few more quizzes to worry about in class. Aside from the tests and quizzes in class, I really enjoy learning all this new and exciting (well exciting to me) stuff. I think if I can make it through this semester, I can do anything!!!

Mock Patient

Today we had a mock patient day. I was really scared at first but once I got going it went pretty good and I was actually having fun. It was nice to have all the clinic time just for me for once. I did not feel rushed(until at the end when we had to get our charts handed in) and I was able to get everyhing done. It was overall a really great learning experience for how clinic will be for us for the next three semesters.
Today we also learned how to do fluoride treatment. I have seen fluoride in the tray being done several times but I have never done it myself. The varnish flouoride was a whole new experience for me, I've never done this myself, seen it done, or had it done on me so I did not know what to expect. I was suprised, applying fluoride really wasn't hard at all, either way. I found another reason we should stay in the operatory with our patient the whole four minutes, my patient had a drooling mishap and had I have been watching a little closer(even though I didn't leave my op) I could have prevented her from drooling all over myself!! It was a lovely experience I thought.
Today was a great learning experience but I have to say I am so glad that on Wednesday I get to be the patient and I can just relax in the chair!