Last Day of Clinic

Today is officially the last day of clinic.  I have mixed feelings about this because I don't feel like I can be good enough for patient treatment.  I feel relieved that things are wrapping up for the first semester. 

Patient Day!!!!

Today was my first day of working on an actual patient!  My sweet husband was willing to let me do him for the first time :)  It was such a good experience!  I was so excited to have this day come, and it went so well!  I was able to get through the whole OD procedures and scale 2 quads!  GO ME!! :)

I love clinic time!  I wish this was the whole hygiene program ;)

Provider Day #2

Today I was able to finish up the 2 quads I didn't complete on Monday.  I also was able to selective polish.  It seemed a little easier to do this today than Monday because I could skim over the OD process since it was done Monday.  I still need to practice my adaptation and angulation, but I felt like I did okay.

I missed some sheet calculus on the distal and buccal of tooth #15.  I really liked missing it even though I had a missed spot mark on my taleval because I was able to have one-on-one time with Professor Costley to show me how to remove the calculus on this tooth.  It was a very good experience for me.

I feel like I am ready to have my first patient on Monday!  I am super excited about this :)

LIZZY WAS GREAT!

Provider Day #1

Today was quite an exhausting day!  I got here early to get all set up to find everyone else was already here ready to go.  I felt a little behind even though I was n half hour early.  I ended up being okay on time because I was done before my patient was available to come back. 

I brought her back first because I was the only one who put my patient in my chair,.  I brought her right back and got started.  I felt pretty confident in what I was doing through the whole OD.  The OD check went well.  I was within a mm from my instructor on probings.  I felt like I did well on time.  I could've sped it up just a little bit in order to finish a patient from start to finish, but since  I am still learning I didn't mind too much.

I was able to complete 2 quad scaling and all of the preliminary part of the appointment.  The mandibular lingual teeth were the most difficult to get cleaned.  She had a lingual bar bonded at each tooth from #22-#27 (I actually separated it from tooth #22 while I was flossing during her OHI.. oops!) 

Overall, I felt like today was successful, and I learned a lot from my instructor because they were only in charge of 2 students, so I got a lot of one-on-one time with her!  I was really excited I was able to finally do this!  I can do this for the rest of the time now :)  YAY!

Patient Day #2

Wednesday November 9, 2011

Today is day 2 of beign a patient.  Lizzy was able to finish scaling the other half of my mouth and did well.  There were a few tender areas, but for the msot part, she did really well.  She sped right through the paperwork part of the charting and moved right into scaling.  I felt I got a good cleaning from her, and that the experience was good for her as well.

When she was done, I was able to pass off my instrument sharpening PE.  I only have 1 more PE to pass off which I will do on Monday!  What a great semester!

Patient Day #1

Monday November 7, 2011

Today I was able to be a mock patient for Lizzy.  I was able to feel how a patient will feel when I work on them.  It was a very good experience.  She did well and covered all her bases.  I felt like the instructors were very helpful.  I also learned what the patient will do in order to come back in the clinic.  The have the time ot fill out a HHx and a registration form.  Both of these are important to fill out before having the patient come back so the clinic is aware of which patients are being seen.  I also learned the walkout procedures through the desk.  It is our obligation to turn the patient over to Mr. Saloman in order to get payment and not be charged as the student provider.  Another thing I learned was what information needs to be on the walkout form in order for Mr. Saloman to understand what is going on. 1. the status of the appointment and the reschedule date and time. 2. an instructor's signature stating that the above treamtent was rendered. 

I am so thankful for this opportunity to go through this because it was a growing experience that I will never forget!

Instrument sharpening & Eaglesoft Walkout

Wednesday November 2, 2011

Today I was able to learn how to sharpen my instruments properly regardless of the terminal shank length or type of scaler.  It was a simple concept, but challenging to put into action.  The degree you had to hold the stone or the instrument in order to obtain the sharpest cutting edge was difficult to master.  It will take much practice in order to understand how to do it completely.  I plan on doing it free hand without actually sharpening (or ruining my insturments).
I also learned how to fast walk out my patient's Tx.  This was a simple concept to learn and to do.  I have a lot of experience walking out patients in the office I worked for.  This is just a different way to do it.  I felt very confident that I would be able to do this with no problems.

Today I was also able to pass off my air powder polish, sealants, and fluoride PEs.  What a fulfilling day!