Patient day again!

Today I got checked in and Mark was not feeling well today.  I felt bad for him, he did not sound like the same man! His voice was different.  Today he scaled all me quadrants!  He did a good job, he only missed two spots when he did a scale check!! I hope when I have my real patient day that I will not miss any spots!! I will need to make sure that I have a light grasp so that I can feel for the calculus! I am going to make sure that I study up over the weekend so that i can make sure that it smooths very nicely!!

Today... I was the patient!

Today it felt nice being the patient and not have all that stress on me!! Mark did me today, he just got as far as the OD today. So next time he will scale me!  He did a good job with keeping up and making sure he did everything, he was good at keeping calm! I am excited to get my teeth scaled on Wednesday by him!

Mock Patient Day 2

Today, I finished up Mark.! I scaled 3 quads on him, it was a lot tougher than i expected!  He actually had some real sub calculus to get. My arm started to get tired.  It really was a good experience to be able to scale something because it prepares me for our real patient day!  I started to feel more comfortable with scaling and It felt more natural... I still feel like i need to adapt just a little bit more for some areas... mark was a trooper :)  i am nervous for my dad to come in... hopefully i don't poke him that bad ;)

First Mock Patient Day!!

Today was stressful!! Mock patient day... I felt over welmed and felt like I was running out of time! I scaled one quad on Mark today.  I was able to get everything done that I needed to, but I am nervous that I am going to forget the order of things and what comes next!  Over the weekend I need to study study study before our real patient day!! I just hope everything goes smoothly and I don't freak out!  Today was good practice from start to finish.  It is amazing at how much I have learned this semester. It has gone by sooo fast!! Pretty soon it will be time to graduate :)  that day will be a blessing!

Flouride and Sharpening!

Today we worked on each other and we did fluoride with the trays on each other and we also got to pass that off today.  We learned more about sharpening and used our cards that we were given.  I like using the cards because it has a guide on it that has the angle for you to use.  Today I feel a little better and more ready for patient mock day.  Next week we see our first "mock" patient and will work on each other all of Monday and Wednesday.  I am excited!  It will be good practice and I will actually get to do EVERYTHING from start to finish!  I was able to pass off my sealants and Fluoride PE.  We ended up having plenty of time after to finish anything we needed to be done.

Sealants!

Today we practiced sealants on each other! I sealed Heidi's teeth!  #4 #5.  I'm used to doing sealants so it was easy for me to do today.  Today was  very good and everything well smoothly.  I also got to pass off the air powder polisher and the selective polishing.  I feel like i am started to get the hang of things and understanding the routine of things! Just a few more times until it is a real patient day!

Salt Spray?

Today we did air powder polish and paste polishing.  The air powder was an experience.  It hurts!  It felt like sand was cutting my cheeks.  Salt was going everywhere!! That is what the powder is.  It is not a good taste.  After I was done in the chair, I had salt running down my face.  The paste polish was easy that is the good stuff because it tastes good.  We put fluoride on each other, and I hate the varnish fluoride.  It was a thick feeling like my teeth are not clean.  Today was fun practicing the air powder even though it did not taste good!

Treatment Planning!

Today we learned how to treatment plan.  I practiced setting up Kayla's treatment plan and set her week up for what days we are going to do it.  Today felt a little stressful because I passed off my OHI and Intra Oral Camera.  It was just stressful because a  lot of people were trying to pass them all off today and so we had to wait for an Instructor to be available.  It was good to get those passed off and out of the way.

Mini mach patient!

Today we had another mini mach patient day to practice the order of things.  I still do not have the order of things down as smoothly as I need them to be.  I need to make sure I have it all down, but with practice it will come.  I don't feel like I am ready for the real patient day to come... I am a bit nervous about that.  Today I passed off my currett and I feel pretty good about that.  I feel like I have that down good... I just need to remember to adapt MORE than I think I should!

Practicing OHI, Extra, Intra, and Probing!

Today was stressful.  We set up our partners like we were doing a real patient and did an Extra, Intra, Probing, and OHI on them. I felt a little overwhelmed remembering what order we did things in.  It will take time with practice so I am not too worried. It was nice being able to practice so I know where I stand with how to do things.   Over Fall Break I am going to review everything to make sure I keep up on what I have learned because after today, I feel like I am not ready for a real patient!

Dental Screening Day!!

Today we did Dental Screenings!  We looked in each others mouths and charted what we had done.  We noted and fillings, crowns, implants, occlusions etc. Marcy and I were partners today and it was fun to see what previous work she had done in her mouth!  There are a lot of different symbols we need to make sure that we know when we have to note what they have. I will definitely be studying a lot over the weekend for this! 
We had some time left over, so I was able to pass off my Anterior Instrumentation PE also my Adaptation and Angulation PE.  I felt that it was a very productive day... I enjoyed it :)

Plaque?!?!

Today we checked for our Plaque-Free Index.  We put disclosing agent on each other and we counted how many surfaces we had with plaque to figure out our PFI.  It was fun to see what areas of my mouth need a little more work.  My mouth looked pretty good, so I was happy about that!  We also go to practice what we needed to. Today I was able to spend more time on Scaling with the Nebraska.  It is difficult to scale the Lingual side, but with more practice I will get the hang of it! 

Curets!!!

Today we learned about curets! :) Today we learned how to use one of our universal curets - the Barnhart. I like using the Barnhart!  Marcy was my partner today...what a trooper! I get nervous that I am going to poke her so I feel that I am babying it... which I need to just do it right so that I can get the hang of it! I guess we learn from pokes and bleeding!!  We can't all get it right the first time!

Probing, Exploring, and Scaling!!

Today in clinic we learned how to use the Nebraska and SH 6/7 anterior scalers. We also went over adaptation, angulation, and activation and the importance in mastering the skills of scaling. Adaptation is what stresses me out! I am scared that I am going to poke if I am not careful, but it will come with time! I understand activation really well so that helps out with my stress level!

Today was a good day :)

Instruments!!

So today we talked about all the different instruments we will be using...we learned all about the uses and what each meant!  We bagged everything up for sterilization!  It made me excited because we are getting closer to being able to scale on each other. I am a little nervous about probing because it is hard for my eyesight to see the little numbers.  I am going to go to the eye doctor and get a better prescription :) hopefully it helps!   

Getting used to the Explorer!

Today we practiced using our Explorer.  We started out on the typodonts then did it on each other!  It is more difficult to do it on each other because the nose gets in the way for the anterior teeth, but then I was showed an easier way to do it :).  What is most confusing it figuring out which end to use on the Explorer.  It will come easier for me the more I practice.   I can't wait until I get to scale teeth!

The joy of Probing!

Probing was really run and a little scary today!! At first I was really nervous for Kierstin to Probe me, but then I realized it is not as bad as I imagined for her first time!  She did really good and did not hurt me!  It just felt a little uncomfortable, but not painful.  I enjoyed probing Kierstin.  It takes some time to get used to the col and the angles, but I felt like I am getting the hang of it!  I want to practice some more.  It was fun to do some real hands on stuff today.  I am excited for when we really get to scale!

Intra Oral Examinations!

Today we learned all about the structures inside the mouth and  where they are located.  We learned how to perform an Intra Oral Exam and I performed one on Kierstin.  There are a lot of structures inside the mouth to remember for an Intra Oral Exam.  I enjoyed doing it, it is interested to know that there are so many structures inside the mouth that you do not realize until you actually look closer and pay attention to what things are.  I also passed off my Extra Oral Exam today and it went well.  They are the best, like a mini massage! Today was a very good day in clinic :)

Cancer Screening!

Today we learned how to do an extra-oral exam!  They are like a mini massage!  They feel so good I loved when we practiced on each other.  We got done early so we were able to practice our PE's and review some things.  It was nice to have a little extra time to get caught up!

Vital Signs!

Today we took each others blood pressure!  I did Marcy today and she was hard to get a pulse because her pulse is so faint.

Health History!

Today we learned how to do the HHx and HHx/Rx of the treatment record. It was a little over whelming because it is a LOT of information but I will get the hang of it.We learned the process of recording and its importance in providing proper treatment to the patient. It is good learning the steps to ensure patient care!  The hygiene program is going great so far I am enjoying it a lot!

Positioning our instruments!

Today was a little stressful getting the correct positions and knowing what position to be in for scaling and holding the mirror.  I learned that 12 and 10 o' clock are away from you and 8 and 9 o' clock are towards you.  It is going to take some practice to get the hang of how to hold the instruments correctly.  "Stacking" is how we are to hold the instruments correctly. All our fingers have to be together and not separated and stack on top of each other in the correct way.  I am going to take my typodont home today and practice!  It was really enjoyable today but stressful to remember what positions are what.  I am really excited to practice and get better!

Setting up our unit!

Today we learned how to properly barrier and set up/ tear down our unit.  We learned how to set up for our patient and get everything ready for the day.  I also passed off  another PE.  Today I passed off the Personal Protective Equipment.  We also practiced suctioning and getting the feeling of how to rinse and suction on our partners!

Passing off my first PE!

Today in Clinical I passed off my first PE!  We also had the Blue Boa inventor, Ann, come demonstrate how to use the Blue Boa.  I really enjoy learning how the Blue Boa works.  It will make my job a lot easier so that I will be able to suction and use my mirror at the same time.  The Blue Boa is definitely a great investment and I think every Hygienist should invest in one!  It was really fun to use our typodont today and get to use the Blue Boa.  We learned the proper order for personal protection today and how to take off our masks properly so that we do not spread germs.  I really enjoyed today and can't wait for more clinics to come!

My First Day In Clinic

Today in clinic, we learned how to work the computer system, did a scavenger hunt, and got familiar with our pod. Kayla, Kierstin, and Marcy are the other girls in my pod, they are great and can't wait to interact with them.  Professor Wold is our adjunct professor, she helps us with questions we may have during clinic also passes us off on our PE's. I am excited to get started and can't wait for the challenges that are ahead!

My first blog!

This is my first blog! I will be posting all about my dental hygiene adventures and can't wait for the next two years :)