First time using the cavatron was a bit scary. I didn't know exactly how it would affect the patient until my winced. I knew then that the cavatron should be used carefully. A couple things I struggled with was hooking up the cavatron. I didnt know what part went where and had to ask alot of questions. I think if we were shown the cavatron more than once or twice I would feel more confident in using that particular tool, but it was a learning experience having to do it on the spot. While using the cavatron water was going everywhere. I soaked my patient and it was a bit embarrassing. How can I improve my use of the cavatron so I wont soak my patient?Thursday, December 3, 2009
Cavatron
First time using the cavatron was a bit scary. I didn't know exactly how it would affect the patient until my winced. I knew then that the cavatron should be used carefully. A couple things I struggled with was hooking up the cavatron. I didnt know what part went where and had to ask alot of questions. I think if we were shown the cavatron more than once or twice I would feel more confident in using that particular tool, but it was a learning experience having to do it on the spot. While using the cavatron water was going everywhere. I soaked my patient and it was a bit embarrassing. How can I improve my use of the cavatron so I wont soak my patient?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
First Semester Patients
Well we just got done with our first semester seeing patients and boy was it crazy. Having a partner was awesome because we were able to get all our patients done in clinic. The scary thing about that is, next semester we don't have partners and charting and seeing the patient will be all up to me. A couple things I struggled this past semester was charting. Some of the residents I guess expect us, first semester hygiene students, to know everything about charting. Although, I learned so much from them, it was still nerve wracking. Knowing what is normal in the mouth and what could potentially be something was sometimes a little difficult and when making notes about those specific areas was also a bit difficult. Knowing all the symbols when charting is going to be crazy next semester. Did anyone else have problems with that? Well other than that I loved each one of my patients. They were awesome and I am so looking forward to next semester, even though I am a bit nervous about charting. Well if anyone has suggestions about charting please let me know. Thanks guys :)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sharpening Instruments
Today we learned about sharpening instruments. At first it seemed easy, but when we started getting to the curets it was a little bit harder. Curets have a rounded toe, so trying to sharpen the sides without making it a sickle...is a bit hard. I tried to understand how to sharpen the rounded toe and I thought I got the grasp of it, but it still looked like it was turning into a sickle. Ms. McGreggor came over and demonstrated how to properly sharpen the toe using a "U" shape movement. Thats when I had my "ah ha" moment. Another moment I had today when sharpening was when Ms. Diaz came over helping me point the terminal shank to 12:00. I was having a hard time with the definition of placing the shank at 12:00 for the Gracey Curet because it is such an akward movment with your wrist, but she came over and helped me see the differance and how to properly hold the instruement at the right angle. It is good to know how to sharpen instruments. I also attached a video why it is important. Well off to the next day!!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
October v.s November
Well October is now over and it was one crazy month. Between competency's, exams, and POH's getting things done was crucial for this month of November because PATIENTS ARE COMING!!!! Some of the competency's that the class did this month was to have full knowledge of Scalers, Curets, Rubber Cup Polishing, Fluoride Treatment, and many others. I am fortunate to say I passed all my Competency's before seeing patients, but it wasn't easy. I had to keep re-taking my Explorer Comp. For some reason I struggled to adapt the right end on the tooth surface, using the right fulcrum, and even rolling the instrument. Until one day when Dr. P was helping me with my instrumentation. I had that "aah ha" moment that everyone keeps talking about. For some reason as she was explaining it to me and helping me use the right end it clicked. I was so happy because since then things for the most part have been smooth sailing.
Another thing I struggled with last month was the 9/10. I thought I knew how to use that instrument but I didn't. All I knew at the moment was that the Gracey 9/10 is used for lingual and buccal surfaces only. Having the definition was one thing, but I suppose putting the instrument into practice was another thing. Ms. Bonwell finally demonstrated the right procedure on using the 9/10. I still don't feel as confident about that instrument compared to the other, but I suppose that's why we practice.
In addition to knowing all instruments in the month of October, getting exams done and POH'S was a little crazy this past month. A couple weeks back the class had 3 exams in one week, 2 of which that fell on the same day. That night Sarah Talley and I experienced our first 5 hour energy shots. We stayed up all night and focused on studying and it worked! Not only did we stay up all night to study but we did pretty well on our exams. Also when I did my second POH for this semester it felt much easier to pass this time around then last time. I think it had to do with knowing what is to be expected.Even though I brushed to the point my tongue almost fell off, I passed and that was the important thing.
Well in closing I just want to add that I am very excited, but very nervous to see our first patients this week. I don't know really want to expect, but I know that I need to be confident and just recall on all the information that was taught in the past couple months. To only thing that we started in August and now we all know so much. If anyone has any suggestions for this week and seeing patients please by all means let me know if you feel the same way. I just hope that everything goes well and that I don't mess up. That I feel confident in front of my patient and not mess up. I know one thing for sure, "DON SAY OOPS" in front of your patient. :)
Another thing I struggled with last month was the 9/10. I thought I knew how to use that instrument but I didn't. All I knew at the moment was that the Gracey 9/10 is used for lingual and buccal surfaces only. Having the definition was one thing, but I suppose putting the instrument into practice was another thing. Ms. Bonwell finally demonstrated the right procedure on using the 9/10. I still don't feel as confident about that instrument compared to the other, but I suppose that's why we practice.
In addition to knowing all instruments in the month of October, getting exams done and POH'S was a little crazy this past month. A couple weeks back the class had 3 exams in one week, 2 of which that fell on the same day. That night Sarah Talley and I experienced our first 5 hour energy shots. We stayed up all night and focused on studying and it worked! Not only did we stay up all night to study but we did pretty well on our exams. Also when I did my second POH for this semester it felt much easier to pass this time around then last time. I think it had to do with knowing what is to be expected.Even though I brushed to the point my tongue almost fell off, I passed and that was the important thing.
Well in closing I just want to add that I am very excited, but very nervous to see our first patients this week. I don't know really want to expect, but I know that I need to be confident and just recall on all the information that was taught in the past couple months. To only thing that we started in August and now we all know so much. If anyone has any suggestions for this week and seeing patients please by all means let me know if you feel the same way. I just hope that everything goes well and that I don't mess up. That I feel confident in front of my patient and not mess up. I know one thing for sure, "DON SAY OOPS" in front of your patient. :)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Clinic and its hardhsips
So we started clinic already and there are a couple things I have been struggling with. First; fulcruming on the upper teeth. I know we are supposed to fulcrum on the same arch as the specific tooth we are working on, but having that stability is hard for some reason. I have been trying to practice my fulcrum with my pencil, but its not the same thing. Another problem I am having is the chair positioning. I am right handed and I know the quadrants I need to be in when working on anterior and posterior teeth, but trying to get all the way in the back, the molars, is a little difficult. I either end up having angel wings or I am bending too far down to try to see back there. If there are any suggestions please let me know. I need help!!!!!!!
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