Teeth just flapping in the wind!!!

      Today was such a good experience and I was able to see it all!! So today I saw my first class 4 patient and he was something.  I really enjoyed my experience.  So first off when I looked at his x-rays I got a little nervous because I knew that by the look of the bone loss and bridge of calculus on the x-rays.... his tooth will be gone.  I sat him in the chair and when i looked in his mouth.... BIGGEST CALCULUS BRIDGE!!! I was so excited to get started. I talked to him about his hygiene and before I started I warned him that his lower anteriors may not be there anymore because they are only being held in by the bridge of calculus...he said to me "well then lets get started" When I started with the ultrasonic i had to hold the tip on the bridge of calculus for several seconds until it finally shattered the bridge.  After an hour my wrist was so tired I didn't think I would be able to continue, I needed a break.  His calculus was so tenacious.
      When I got to his molars he had class 2/3 furcations and I have never had an experience with them and Professor Alexander gave me some good tips on how to scale them and she let me use curved tips for the ultrasonic and let me tell you...THEY WERE AMAZING!! I was able to really get in the furcation and the tip fit perfectly and made it so much easier!! So when I was all finished with the quads I did today, sure enough his tool was flapping in the wind and am almost positive it will be gone when he comes in next week for his visit!!

Already having to use my back-up patient...my mom!

    So today went really good for our first day back scaling teeth.  I had my brother scheduled Joel to come in and he agreed that he could a few days ago then I got the call....the call we all HATE!! Yup, Joel was calling me to cancel his appointment 10:00 last night saying he was too stressed with his test the next day and can not drive up because he needs to study instead.  I understood where he was coming from so I told him I would just find someone else so he could get his stuff done he needed.  I was hoping I wouldn't have to use my mom already because she is a good reliable fast back-up patient but after calling several people that night I had no other choice.  I was glad I saw her though because she has braces and i feel like she needs to see the hygienist every 3 months instead 6 because she build calculus more than I expected and i had only seen her 4 months ago.   When I saw her 4 months ago she had just barley gotten her braces on and had minimal plaque and calculus, but this time the amount of her calculus was a surprise to me.  It was good having my patient be my mom on the first day because I was able to not stress as much worrying and my appointment went smoothly.
       I was a little shocked at how natural scaling felt to me and how everything came back to me so easily.  I was expecting to feel way out of my ordinary and not remember positions.  There were times that I felt a little handicap but then I remember the correct way it made sense.   I can't wait for this last year and the experiences I will gain!