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!

Class 3 COMPLETE!! and My mom came in with braces!!

So today was so fun being in senior clinic!! So much more laid back and easy going.  I loved having leigh perry there to help me with tips and any questions that I had.  I was able to finish my class 3 and get him our of there in enough time so that I still could see my mom!! My mom just got braces so it was a good experience! I loved it, it was good practice and it certainly was harder.  It was funny to have my mom in there she kept making me laugh cause she would imitate me.  Leigh taught me way good tips and I felt so awkward doing things but Leigh said I was doing just fine and that I will get used to it but that I look good.  It was stressful today because I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to finish him and then get my mom in but I did!! I was so glad it all worked out!

I HATE MONARCH DENTAL!!!

So my class 3 pt came in today and he had just had all his x-rays done from monarch dental so he had them  fax them to us and we could not see what was going on at all so we asked them to e-mail them to us and they said they would but really i waited around for my whole appt waiting for them to do so...and never got them!  I wasted all that time and only got an OD done.  I was so bugged.  I felt bad because we couldn't do anything on him.  So when I went to schedule his next appointment he informs me that he is going out of town so the only option is for him to come in on the senior clinic day.  Luckily it works and I can see him then!! I am stressed out..hopefully I can get him done it that day! Leigh Perry is going to help me and watch me and give me tips so I am excited about that!  Wish me luck :)

Class 2...really a 1B....

Today I was frustrated!!! A second year took a class 3 from me and she said that they were a class 2 and so I was excited because that is what I need and I have way too many 1b's.....so when all is said it done my patient turns out to be a 1b and not even close to a class 2.  I was so mad because I need 2 and I have way too many 1B.  On top of that frustration...it only got worse.  Taking x-rays took forever, the developer had some issues for minute and I had to take a retake.  I only got to OHI and didn't get to scale at all so I felt like today was a bad day.  But that is ok, every patient is different and some appointments go more smoothly than others.  He does need a pano I am going to see if he will get a pano his next appointment then at least I can get that requirement done :)   Next week I am going to make sure I am ahead of the game and get everything all ready and organized so that i can not have anything upset me that I have control of haha today I switched clinics so it was not as organized as I usually am because I had to bring all my stuff over to another pod and I felt it made me a little OCD and out of line with things.  But anyways I am going to make sure next week is a lot better than today :)

Clinic Lab Day!!

       Today was just a lab day and we learned how to pass off three new PE's.  Blood Glucose, Diagnodent, and removable appliance.  Blood Glucose was fun to learn about, we got to poke each others fingers and test our own sugar levels.  I just had a bunch of sugar before so I felt that mine was a little high... it was 113 and normal range is 80-120. So i was within range, but still it was the top of the range.  We learned the difference between diabetes type 1 and 2 and why one is insulin resistant and one insulin dependent.

       The Diagnodent was fun to learn how to use.  The diagnodent detects any suspicious areas on the teeth .  It is a good way to detect cavities and efficient.  We also learned the proper way of how to clean a denture by putting it in the container with the solution and letting it soak and then brushing it correctly.  Today was a good day and a good day from seeing patients and not having to prepare for patients before.

     These PE's I think are going to be fun to pass off I enjoyed learning more about them and can't wait to do them!

FIRST PATIENT IN ONE DAY!!!

Today I saw my first patient in ONE day. She was only a 1B so that helped out a lot! It was so nice being able to actually get her done in one appointment!! I didn't take x-rays though, so that saved me 20 minutes but I still had extra time at the end so I was not too rushed.  I did use the Ultrasonic on her lower anteriors, and um.... so it makes me nervous to use it! I was NOT confident at all!  I was glad to switch back to hand scale.  Ha so that is going to be my goal next patient is to use the ultrasonic and be better with it and more confident!  Everyone says it is not bad you just have to get used to it but I feel like I am just being a little to careful and need to be more bold and trust myself. I have come along way and it is crazy how much I have learned and I just started seeing patients this semester!  I love it!  Dental Hygiene is seriously the best ever :)  I love going to school!