11/28/2011

This was last clinic day. I was able to go over the chart from last clinic day and fix the errors that I made. That helps me realize what I need to work on.  I feel like my hardest sheet to fill out is the perio blue sheet.  I am not completely comfortable with it yet.  The rest of clinic was going over CA duties, safety and clinic manual quiz. It is amazing how much we have covered this semester. Reading through the clinic manual at the end was very helpful because I felt like I understood it better as I read through it again. I look forward to next semester so that I can get more comfortable putting all of what we learned together. I also finished my x-ray practical exam today and I was disappointed a bit on my bwx.  I missed a premolar on one shot. I felt like I could have done a better job on my film placement.  I am finding out that when I am so nervous I don't do as well. I plan on working on that more next semester.

11/21/2011

It was real pt day.  I have been looking forward to this day, but I was surprised that I was a little more nervous than I expected.  One problem was having my x-rays done so late in the day, it put my tx plan and walk out paper work even farther behind.  I forgot to have the pt sign that she took the x-rays, I am like a dinosaur with all the computer programs.  I hope they become more familiar with use. I also am unsure about recording suspicious lesions that I noted on the x-ray sheet, but didn't record onto the green sheet or under dent. In retrospect I am pretty sure I did that wrong. What I did right....well some paper work (I hope), probing was accurate, recession measurements, and dental charting.  Probing took me a long time. I wish that I had a chance to disclose, but will do that next time.  I found it difficult to be responsible to read the x-rays because it is a real person and not just dexter. We charted occlusal suspicious lesions in class but, but I didn't have it in my brain that if I thought I saw inter proximal caries that I should also mark that on the green sheet and note suspicious lesions on the treatment record. I am glad that we have another year and half to remember all of this and get to the point that it is comfortable and not so overwhelming.  My pt. was a good sport to come in.  I owe her some chocolate.

11/16/2011

Today is my daughters 16th birthday!!  Yes that makes me older too.  In clinic I was the operator again and I finished scaling the last two quadrants, selective polished, flossed, and applied fluoride varnish.  It was good learning time for me. I am getting more and more comfortable, specifically with the posterior scaling.  It is tricky along the distal of 2, and 15. The instructors are very helpful to show me pointers in sitting positions, fulcruming, and even using the mirror to hold oral tissues out of the way.  I am excited about Monday because we get to work on someone besides ourselves.  Lori is my pt and doing me such a huge favor I owe her a lot of chocolate... or something.

11/14/2011

I was the operator today. It went well.  I got through probing, (my least favorite) we also had to do a new HHX sheet and so I took the BP, P, R, which was also good review for me before we have our real pt on Monday. Scaling went well. I learned some new tricks, and sitting positions to be able to see the linguals better on the mandibular molars. I found some calculas on #5, it did have a rough texture so it was good to feel the differences.  I missed one probing number, and a little plaque on the anterior linguals around the lingual bars.  It was helpful to have the disclosing agent left on the teeth.  It is a good way to start.  Next Monday I have a real pt come in and I am wanting to feel more comfortable with the flow of all the charting, instructor checks and treatment planning, and walk outs.  I hope that I can keep this all straight. I am currently reading over the clinic manual so that I can remember all of the rules.

11/9/2011

It was second day of me being a mock pt.  Erin did a great job. She is so good at adapting around the tooth when she is scaling. It felt like she got better and better as she went along. She also kept well within her time frame.  I am looking forward to next week to be the operator.  I feel like we have learned a lot this semester and I now want the chance to put it into practice.  I found someone to be my patient for Nov. 21, a friend of mine is coming in.  It is all scheduled into eaglesoft, including the x-rays. I also passed off my sharpening PE. 

11/7/11

I was the patient today for the mock pt day.  Erin was the operator and she did an awesome job. She is very good at adapting when probing and scaling.  Her feed back was that it was not as bad as she thought it would be.  I think that charting and instructor checks are starting to get more comfortable.  I am sad because my sharpening stone broke today. It just slipped off the counter when I picked something up.  I am taking a set of instruments home today and the typodont so I can re-familiarize myself with scaling again.  Next Monday I am the operator.   

11/2/11

We are getting closer to our mock pt day.  I am looking forward to when we can walk through from start to finish.  It helps to seal it in your memory in a chronological order.  I passed off my fluoride, air/powder polisher, and sealant today. I am planning to have my neighbor come in for Nov. 21 so I will confirm that and schedule it in eaglesoft.