10-30-06

After the weekend it was hard to come back and put myself in hyg. learning mode. I forgot how do everything we learned last week. I guess it is because I am still learning. I sure hope all of this becomes routine.
Today we went over when to use what instrument with case studies and I am still really lost. I sure hope it gets easier to know and remember. After we went over that we got to practice on each other. So that seem to help make it all come back.

Barnhart

The skill we learned to use today was how to use the barnhart. We found out it is more comfortable for the patient to use the barnhart on the posterior than the anterior. It was suggested to use the columbia with the anterior.
I didn't have any time to pass off any PE"s today...so I'm glad I'm at least caught up until next Wednesday. So next clinic I will plan on Passing off a couple of PE's to get ahead. I found out today that we are not suppose to practice on a real human until we have a liscense. We are only suppose to practice on our typodonts. So that's what I'll have to do....even though it feels completely different between the two.

Intra oral camera

Today we learned how to use the intra oral camera. It wasn't too hard it just was hard to orient yourself with taking a picture and looking and the screen and in the mouth to take a great picture.
We had a ton of time left as well so my pod passed off a couple of PE's and had time to practice. It was nice to have that time instead of learning a new skill that was hard.
By next clinic I hope I can get a head of my self with a couple more PE's and feeling comfortable with some of the skills we have been taught.

Start from the beginning

Today we started from the very beginning as if we had a real patient. It took longer than I thought it would. I was trying to stay caught up with time and I just fell behind. My hope is that everything will become routine.
My goal for monday is to make a list and what order everything goes in. I hope that will help a little. And maybe practice more on any one who will be willing.

scaling

Today we learned how to scale. Trying to adapt to the tooth is a little difficult and I'm not sure which end to use where. I can't seem to feel with the explorer what is calculus and what is the CEJ or something else. Just like any new technique that we are trying to learn, I just can't seem to get the hang of it.
I did pass off 3 PE's today which is excellent. Next time we are suppose to start from the beginning and do everything until now. My goal by than is to feel adequate enough to do everything.
Until next time.

Clinic

Today in clinic we took a lot of time going over our instruments and it took away from our procedure time. I went second and I didn't have a lot of time to finish. I really wanted to try to understand what we are looking for in the disclosing solution and my lab partner was also trying to understand. When she was doing my PFI she was calling out every surface. I wasn't questioning her capability of doing this, I was just wondering if she was looking at the right stuff. She really got upset at me about it. All I was trying to is understand for myself exactly what we would be looking at.
Any way...I'm trying to blow it off.
Probing is a really difficult procdure. I seem to be probing there gum tissues instead of their pockets. I sure hope I get better at this.

Disclosing Solution

Today we used the disclosing solution on each other. Everyone looked so fabulous with purple teeth. Using this stuff sure opens your eyes to where you need to pay more attention to while brushing and flossing. I really need to go get my teeth cleaned and change my tooth brush....GROSS!!!!
My goal for today would be to practice probing to get better readings...since we did that today as well and we will be doing it next time as well.

OH MY *@#&%?

Today was an an awful day. The instructors decided to bring out the diagnodent in clinic and test for carious lesions. My lab partner (I won't mention any names) has 6 suspicous lesions (cavities) and 1 confirmed cavity. Myself, they seem to have found 4 suspicious carious lesions. If we didn't have a diagnodent than they wouldn't have found any....
I'm probably going to go to the Dentist and get a second opinion. Not that I don't trust the clinic but I had no idea I had that many bad teeth.
Other besides that clinic went well with charting.

BFI

Calculating the BFI is not hard but hands down, probing and reading the probe surpasses my comfort level. I can't seem to get my fulcrum where it needs to be and which position do I use and where....AHHHHHHH!!!!!
The good news is that I passes two PE's off today and so I am a little a head of the game. It gives me time to practice the other skills that are challenging to me.