Sealants and Fluoride

Today, I learned how to place sealants and use fluoride in the tray.  I learned how to place sealants in the office I worked at for a long time, so this was just a refresher course for me.  I knew how to identify teeth that need sealants and placed them well.  I learned how to adjust them, so they don't feel high which was a good thing to learn.  After  Idid the sealants on my classmate I learned how to place fluoride gel in the tray.  This was pretty easy, but it takes 4 minutes directly on the teeth to be effective which kind of was a long time sitting in the chair not doing much.


I was able to pass off my Selective Polishing PE today and felt like I did well.  Overall, today went really smooth without any frustrations or bumps in the road :)

Air powder polish, selective polish, and Fluoride Varnish application

Today I learned about Air powder polishing starting with a penny over the sink to get the feel of it.  I then was able to practice on my pod partner.  She did really well even though it tasted very nasty and was hard on her mouth since she bleaches and her teeth are very sensitive.  After I practiced this, I did a selective polish on her teeth.  Even though her teeth don't have any stain, it was nice to be able to practice.  After I polished I placed fluoride varnish on her teeth by using a sweeping motion on each surface like you would using nail polish all over her teeth from distal posterior to mesial anterior.  I felt confident doing this.


I was able to pass of my Tx planning PE.

Eaglesoft Treatment Planning

Today I learned how to treatment plan hygiene treatment and phase it in order of appointments.  I have worked with eaglesoft a lot doing this as an assistant, so I was able to zip right through it and move on to other things I needed to pass off and learn.  I taught the others in my pod how to finish up their treatment plan and started working on the dental screening PE.  I was able to review it a little and pass it off today.  I also passed off my intraoral camera PE today as well.  I felt like today was a good day in clinic because I am all caught up on what I have to pass off to this point.  GO me! :)

Practice Day

Today I was able to work on a new classmate and go through the process that we have learned up to this point.  I checked her HHx, HHX/Rx, OD (extra, intra, dent, perio), OHI (PFI, BFI, behavior, Aids given, Goal).  I felt more confident with the process as I went through it.  I also got my loupes in the mail this week, so I was able to practice with them for the first time today. 


I didn't pass any PEs off today.

Intraoral Camera

Tpday we learned intraoral camera use briefly.  I practiced on my classmate today and was able to go through the whole OD process.  I did an extra oral exam, an intra oral exam, probing on 1 quadrant, charted the dental screening I found, and disclosed with a disclosing agent for the PFI %.  The disclosing agent I used was yellow so it made it very difficult to see the plaque.  I won't be using that again! :)  I also practiced giving her OHI and was able to pass off this PE while I did it.  I described periodontitis and caries formation.  I practiced with the curet again today and was able to pass this off as well!  I felt like today was a very productive day for me and my class mates!

Dental Screening

I learned how to chart existing and suspicious areas on the dental form.  I was able to then practice my skills by charting my pod partner's teeth and restorations.  This was pretty easy for me as I have done it several times with a hygienist I worked with in the dental office.  I liked actually seeing what it looked like in the mouth and finding them.  It didn't take long, so I was able to practice scaling on anterior teeth and practice my adaptation, angulation, and activation.

I was able to pass off my sickle scaler PE and my Adaptation, Angulation, and Adaptation PE.

OHI & PFI

Today we learned how to do a Plaque Free Index and give OHI.  I was paired up with a new classmate (Amanda :) )  It was fun to switch it up a little bit.  I placed 2 drops of disclosing solution under her tongue and had her swish to see what it looked like.  She mentioned she brushed her teeth this morning, so her PFI was pretty accurate.  She looked really good.  She had a few areas, but that is because she didn't brush after lunch because she knew we were disclosing today.After we did that, I practiced giving her OHI due to periodontitis and caries.  I pretended as if she was a teenager because it made it a bit easier.  I felt I did a good job with this.  I had an hour to complete these two things, so I practiced scaling with a sickle scaler on her anterior teeth.  I still need a bit of practice getting the adaptation down so I don't poke her as much.  Hopefully, Stephen will be home this weekend so I can finally practice on a person at home!

I didn't pass any PEs off today because they aren't due until next week and I want to practice and get more comfortable with it.

Curet Scaler

Today I was able to learn about the curet scaler for posterior teeth.  I practiced on my typodont and then practiced on my pod partner.  I am trying to remeber to use the "door knob" technique to remove the calculus in a working stroke.  I understand the concept.  I just need to remember it.  I felt like today was successful. 

I was able to pass off my Instrument Identification PE

Sickle Scaler & Adaptation, Angulation, and Activation

Yesterday I was able to practice using my sickle scaler on anterior teeth.  I was the second one to practice, so I was able to feel what Kristen was doing when she was scaling and see the consequences of incorrect adaptation.  Incorrect adaptation makes the gingiva bleed and feel very sore.  I tried really hard to focus on this and learn to get this down before worrying about the other A's.  I feel like I did an okay job; however, I did make her bleed a little bit.  I want to keep practicing so I feel comfortable subgingival.  I think this will come with time.  I do know what Angulation means.  This is the proper degree you hold the instrument at in order to remove calculus (70-80 degrees).  I haven't really practiced this other than when Prof. Costley came over and showed me this.  Activation is a term used for the removal of calculus.  Because my pod partner doesn't have a lot of calculus on her anterior teeth it was hard to actually remove anything.  I was able to use my typodont to remove anterior calculus, but the gingiva on the typodont is rubber and made it difficult to remove deep calculus.

I wasn't able to pass off any PE's today because I helping Kristen pass her's off.  I wasn't really ready for the instrument identification anyway.

Instrument Identification

Last Wednesday I was able to look through all of my instruments and identify them.  They are identifiable by their rigidity, light or heavy calculus removal, functional shank (simple/complex), primary use (anterior/posterior), Terminal shank (short/long), Depth (sub/supra), working end (round/pointed), blade orientation.  I was lucky to have an instructor that taught me thoroughly.  I have a lot to study to learn them by name, but I do know which one is used for each surface/tooth.

I was able to pass off my probing and exploring PE today.  It was a huge relief because I had a busy weekend!