10/31/11

I passed off the selective polishing and eagle soft tx plan.  We learned how to use sealants.  I put two sealants on Megan premolars, it was not as hard as I expected.  She placed 4 sealants for me.  I want to be able to bring in my little niece and nephews when they get their perm. teeth in and seal them.  Less cavities.  We also took x-rays on each other today. I was really happy because I didn't have to do any retakes, they all turned out on the first take.  (pat myself on the back)  I like taking x-rays and find it comes easier than other things that we are learning. Over all it was a very productive day.

10/26/2011

We did a lot today.  The air/power, polisher, flossing, brushing, and varnish.  I was looking forward all this time to using the polisher.Don't ask me why, just because. It is nice for a change to put something the patients mouth that won't jab or poke their gums while we are practicing.  Jacque was very patient as I experimented with all of this. She also showed me how to floss around her lingual bars with a floss threader.
I have to say as a patient I really dislike the varnish. I had my teeth all smooth and clean and that stuff feels like yuck. Good thing it is good for my enamel or it would be brushed off by now.

10/24/11

Today we learned how to make a treatment plan on eaglesoft.  The program was easier to use than I expected.  I also passed off OHI and the intraoral camera.  I read through that PE, but sometimes I get a brain freeze and I couldn't remember where you recorded it on the treatment form.  I will remember now.  It is recorded under the Tx as intraoral photo, indicating the structure photoed and what instructions were given to the pt.  I need to find out what you do with the printed version.  Do I send it home with the pt or put it in the chart.  Am I taking the photo to help the dentist see a structure better for diagnosis, or am I taking pictures so the pt can see problem areas?  Or maybe it is used for both. I am going to research this and find out.

10/19/2011

Today I was able to pass of my curet PE.  I feel like that I am more comfortable with it, but find it too big to use with classmates, I am curious how it would work with someone with a 5 + pocket.  I can see how it would help with that, but it is difficult to use now.  We also worked on TalVal OD, and charting.  The repetition is helping me to remember from class time to class time, and the student manual is making more sense when I review it. Yeh this is a long wknd, and the sun is out.

10/17/2011

Today at clinic we put together almost all the things we have learned so far.  It was great practice.  We first went over the pt HH form, through charting HHx and HHxRx, to OD recording extra,and intra oral exams, dent, and perio.  We also probed, and recorded.  Then OHI showing PFI and BFI, pts education, goals, and instructions. We ended with StatusRx. I would love to have that kind of practice again.  I think that we would get faster and more efficient with it,and put it into my long term memory. Hands on help me to visualize the information that I read over in the book too.  It just makes more sense.
I also tried to practice with my curet for a few minutes. I didn't get much time but I have a question about placing the tip of the working end properly onto the tooth. It is hard to get that 70 degree angles.  I am going to go over that at home, and then check with a instructor. Over all it was a good day

10/12/2011

I felt like we got a lot done today.  We went over OD on the dental hygiene assessment sheet and entered our Pod partners information into their chart.  It was good practice identifying composite fillings and sealants.  Every time we start some thing new I always feel so awkward.  But during pod rap the 2nd years said that is normal, they used the analogy of starting a new job.  Every thing is new and hard at first but it eventually comes more natural after awhile.  I liked that, very encouraging.  I happily passed off ant. scaling!!!  I like scaling, except for the lingual because of the mirror.  I plan on practicing at home more with the mirror image, and that will help me get used to it.

10/10/2011

Note to self.  On disclosure day make sure your alarm clock goes off, because 15 min to get ready also means a very short tooth brushing time, resulting in very purple teeth.  It was a good example of how not to brush.  After she took my PFI I brushed how I usually do and that was more helpful to see where typically I may miss.  We had a new partner today, and she did a great job with her anterior scaling.  I need some more time practicing, sometimes if you are second I feel like the time is cut short.  I plan on taking my instruments home to be ready to pass off on Wednesday.  It's all good.

10/5/2011

Celebrate today, I passed off my probing PE,  and explorer.  I had practiced at home a lot this week and was really worried about it because it is so different in clinic actually working in some ones mouth.  (at home the lighting is so bad I can't really read the probe.)  But good news is, I feel much more comfortable about it. Also thanks to Karen and her distal bump on the explorer I was understood how to find the right working end.  Thanks for sharing Karen! Note to self, I do think practicing at home is helpful even though it is just on a typodont. 

10/03/2011

Clinic today was scaling (anterior teeth) The practice went well, I just need to remember to do upward strokes instead of circular. I do find scaling and exploring more comfortable than probing.  I will pass of my probe PE on Wednesday, I am nervous about that.  I find it difficult to probe and read the lingual anterior teeth.  I am taking my instruments home again to practice on a poor family member, however it is difficult to see probing measurements because of poor lighting.  Tonight we will be back for a CE class from 6:30 - 8:30 it will be a long day.