Last PE day

Today was our last day to pass off all of our pe's other than the PSR one. It's so nice to finally know everything we're going to need to for our real patient experiences. I'm super nervous for my real patient on wednesday even though it's my mother. I feel like I'm ready I'm just so nervous to be evaluated and not mess anything up in fron of her.

Mock patient

So today was a really good experience. It was mock patient day and I think it helped me immensely or will help me for my real patient on Wednesday so that I don't scare them and I look professional and know what I'm doing. It was a really good experience and let me see how everything went in a certain order. The calculus and overall teeth health may not be as good as my fellow student but at least this appointment turned me in the right direction,

PSR probing

Today we practices the PSR probing, It went alittle bit quicker than normal probing and gives you a general idea how the gingival tissues are. We're getting so close to the end of the semester and I think I'm almost ready for a real patient, but we'll see. We also are trying to pass off all of our PE's so I've had varnish on on my teeth almost every clinic day, but it really helps me to understnad what the patients will have to experience.

sealants

Today we did sealants. They were so much easier than I thought. You can get them done really fast I think the etch and actually being able to cover something up make me nervous, but I think they are actually fun to do.

Today was fun. We used the air powder polisher and I love it except it kinda stings when we are first trying to do it correctly. The hygienists used this in the office i used to work in and so it was more familiar to me. I'm just scared because the next time we use it it will be on an actual patient.

Ultrasonic scaling

I really like the ultrasonic scaler. I think it really saves my fingers and hands some straing even if i am in a neutral position. I think it removes calculus and plaque more efficiently and may be easier on the patient. I think practicing everything together will of course make everything easier and make me faster and more efficient no matter what instrument and places I am using and scaling.

Today we polished the teeth. I was scared after we got the lecture on how polishing removes enamel, but it wasn't to bad. The fluoride varnish is interesting. It makes my teeth feel so filthy like they are coated with plaque and stuff. The Orange cream foam fluoride was really good tasting I almost like it better than the varnish, almost.

Scaling all the teeth.

I think I'm doing good with having my own procedure and order for scaling the teeth. I think it just takes practice and I think every week everyone including myself is doing better. The better I do the more I enjoy the clinic sessions and learn better. :o)

Posterior Scaling

For me I think that posterior scaling is alittle bit easier for me to grasp, but someone explained it to me better. I think that it's way to different to work on a real person than to work on a typodont. Scaling is really fun but I'm constantly worried that I'm going to hurt that person. I think I;ll get better once my fingers get stronger and I've practice more but it's still stressful to learn especially when I'm not getting the concept as well.

Today helped because we did a whole patient from start until finish. It did take forever but when I went and observed I was totally confused at how they were doing things and so today made everything alittle bit clearer. I really like scaling but when I'm the second person I feel like I don't have enough time to do everything and I'm always rushed and I need alot more practice to be where I'm better.

SCALING

Scaling is by far my favorite thing to do so far. I'm not very good at all yet i still slip off the teeth, but I'm think I'm doing about average in our class for the first time. I'm just glad to start practicing since this is what we will spend the most time doing.

Next week we start actually scaling! I'm nervous to hurt or be hurt, but it's the biggest thing we are going to be doing. The PE's are getting more complex, but today was good because we got to work with people in other pods instead of the people we've been working with so far.

disclosing solution

The disclosing solution helps so much with finding where the plaque is on the patient and educating the patient by letting them see where the plaque is and how to remove it. We disclosed each other and I got a 98% yay. It helps that I floss in the mornings where some people floss at night and so there was plaque in those areas by the time they got to class earlier this morning. I think that kind of stuff is motifation for everyone in our class to use the same techniques they are teaching.

Dental Screening

I'm so glad there are people in here who have more experience than me. I know the basic charting, but there's people in my pod who help me out immenslely because they have dealt with our charting a lot more. It's getting funner as we work on each other more and more and get quicker and more comfortable working in each other's mouths. I really enjoy clinic for the most part.

practice

I think practice helps me out so much. Last session when the instructors would try and help us out with doing something it didn't make too much sense, but today when they helped me I actually had an easier time understanding what they were helping us to do. I'm more confidence today with probing and not hurting my patient as well. I think the more I practice the better I will get.

PROBING

Probing, what else is there to say about it? JK it's so scary because I know it hurts on me when someone else does it wrong so I'm so scared that I'm going to hurt my patient. The pockets when they are shallow are also so much harder to get in there and even though they don't hurt as much, there is more pressure to get them into the pocket almost I think. I mean I'm not pressing harder but it's not as a relaxed move for me. I dunno how else to explain it.

exploring the mouth

I feel so uncoordinated when I'm looking in the mouths of my classmates. I'm sure it will get better but I just feel like I'm in weird positions. Also, my mouth may be worse off then my classmates and I feel so self conscious. But hey, that's why we're here!

Exploring

I'm so excited we've finally got to the point of working on each other! I'm scared to hurt my fellow hygiene classmates, but I think things will be funner once we start learning hands on better instead of just reading and imagining what we are supposed to be doing. This is also a good way to be gentle because they're going to be working on me as well and so I'll be able to see what hurts me to prevent me from doing it to them. HE HE :0)

Intra oral exams

The intraoral exams are harder only because we need to know the names of the certain structures. I think once we get our own habit and way of doing things then it will go by lots faster and be better. The extra oral exam I think is getting easier for me with practice and knowing what structures I am talking about exactly. Overall I think practice will make perfect.

fulcrum

Today we worked on fulcrums and it was sorta nerve racking. I was so nervous even though I've worked with patients alittle bit. Pinching the patient with my finger or mirror and any instrument is scary because it really hurts and that could lose a lot of respect form the patient if you keep causing them pain. Leaning over the patient instead of using my mirror is going to be a hard habit to break, but I think I'm doing pretty well at keeping myself from doing so. There's still so much to learn, but I believe it will get easier.

Vital Signs

The hardest part about vital signs for me is taking the blood pressure. It's hard for me to hear the tapping for the systolic pressure and getting it to an exact number. I'm hoping that I'll catch on pretty quick since we're going to need to be able to get an accurate count on each patient. The TA's are such a big help because they have their own personal experiences from only a year ago to reflect on to help us out with problems maybe they have had. I'm just glad that everyone wants to work together instead of competing against one another to be better. I'm really looking forward to 29 or more new friends.

Health History

Patient Health Histories are so time consuming but very important. To make sure all info is obtained an recorded correctly there must be patient-operator interaction to ask questions. This is vital to both a good grade and making sure there aren't going to be any severe complications with the procedure. Overall I think these clinic sessions are very successful in helping me to learn the proper things to do within a real practice. :)

Patients

These next couple of semesters are going to be a lot more stressful than this first one. I'm glad they told me in advance, but now I'm starting to worry about finding patients. I mean, I'm sure it will turn out fine. All the professors and students are super nice so I think it will be a great experience while preparing myself for the real world.

PE pass off

The clincic sessions are getting funner. The instructors are super nice and so willing to help me learn. The PE pass off wasn't as difficult as i thought it would be. So far I think I'm doing pretty good and having some fun getting used to the body positions. I need to drop some of my bad habits I've acquired through dental hygiene assisting, including the good body positions and not bending my neck.

First day of clinic

Today was a very interesting day of clinic. I'm still confused but some things are starting to become clearer. Eaglesoft was easier than i expected it to be which is awesome! I'm glad everyone in here is in the same spot as I am so it makes me relax more. It seems like it will be lots of fun and I'm looking forward to the clinic part of this course!

First Blog

Getting ready to start my first day. I'm excited and nervous but ready.