11/14/07

Today was kinda crazy, Julie went first and took up all of 30 minutes of the clinic session. I felt rushed ecause the fluoride PE was due today and I was planning on also passing off the air-powder polisher and sealant PE. Oh well, next time Ill just take more time. WE learned PSR and really it feels pretty insignificant in the real world. I don't think I'll ever really use it outside of school. You might as well just probe the whole mouth. Today is Alyssa's 13th birthday! That makes me feel so old, she was born when I was eight.

11/12/07

Today we learned how to do sealants! It was super fun, but challenging as well. I did 3 on Julies teeth. I passed off my selective polishing and walkout PE today. I felt like the whole day was busy and productive. I can't believe it's getting so close to the end of the semester. I'm happy, but it's sad how fast it has gone by.

11/7/07

Today was hilarious, we all looked like lunch ladies with our PPE for air powder polishing. I don't think I will use it on my patients very often now that I know how disgusting the salt is! I passed of my posterior scaling PE. IT was good, but I'm starting to get antsy for the end of the semester and christmas break.

11/5/07

It feels like things are finally starting to slow down or at least get better. We learned how to sharpen instruments and ultrasonic in the same day. We passed off our intra-oral camera and got done early! It was a good day, but I felt like I had a really short attention span. Ultrasonicing is kinda hard with all the cords and foot pedals and getting sprayed with water. You can't really use your mirror for indirect vision cause it gets sprayed with water. Hopefully I work out all the kinks cause I think it will be a great asset to my patients and me!

10/31/07

Today is Halloween and we had lots of fun selective polishing, flossing and varnishing. THe skills we are learning lately are really fun and not as hard to master. I passed off my anterior scalling PE with 3's-4's and it felt easy. Next time we are learning about sealants for which I am really excited about!

10/29/07

Today was fun, we had a big Halloween party! We practiced ant/post scaling and passed off angulation and adaptation PE. I still need to finish my dental screening PE that I faiuled last week. I'm glad today is a big improvement from last clinic!

10/24/07

I am so tired today, I just feel like I cannot catch up on sleep or ever be prepared enough for class or clinic. New things keep popping up and I never feel ahead. I passed off my instrument identification pe today and we practiced posterior instrumentation on the typodonts. I guess it was an ok day, but i need a serious vacation or something.

10/22/07

Today freaking sucked. I have to redo my dental charting PE. I am so pissed that I didn't really go over it this weekend. The intra oral camera was pretty fun, but scaling is still hard and I feel discouraged. Hopefully it will fell easy soon.

10/18/07

Today we finally learned to scale. We only worked on anterior teeth but it was both challenging and exciting. Julie was scared that I would scrape her teeth off, but i don't think I did. It is fun to learn this and practice it. I have white out all over from the typodont. I passed off my probing PE with 3s and 4s.

10/15/07

Today we learned all the different scalers and how to categorize them. It was pretty interesting but I don't know if I'll be able to remember which one is which. I passed off my explorer PE today, I feel I did ok but I was kind of nervous for some reason. I feel really hungry today and so I was kinda shaky. Hopefully wednesday will be better.

10/10/07

Today we learned about disclosing and OHI. I wasn't really thrilled with my PFI, it was only 40%. I really need to be better about flossing and the distal surfaces of my upper right side. I bought a new oral b electric toothbrush but I guess its not as great as I thought, or I'm using it wrong. I guess this is good incentive to keep your teeth clean to avoid embarrasment by your classmates and teachers. I passed off my eagle soft and instrument grasp PE, with mostly all 4's. It was a good day other than my pink mouth!

10/8/07

Today we learned about dental charting, i.e. fillings, missing teeth, occlusion etc. It was pretty fun and we integrated BFI and probing along with extra and intra oral exams. I didn''t pass off any pe's but for next time I need to pass off instrument grasp. I need to work on not leaning over and using my dental mirror more especially for indirect vision and retraction. Today was good.

10/3/07

Today we did more probing and learned the BFI and PFI. I passed off my extra and intra oral PE's and I got all 4's! It was a good day today and i finnally feel like I have a routine.

10/1/07

Today we learned how to probe. It was harder than I thought trying to read the measurements on a freaking tiny little instrument, especially if looked at from a mirror. I hope it starts to feel better next time. I need to pass off my extra and intra oral exam pe's the next time.

9/26/07

I am so excited were actually getting in people's (pod partners) mouths and starting to work. It makes the day go by so much faster is more fun! Today we worked on exploring. I need to work on really turning my explorer so I don't poke and getting used to the mirror, light and fulcrums. Each day seems easier, but my brain still feels full every clinic. I am glad I chose dental hygiene as a profession. I am looking forward to scaling soon...

7th day

Today we learned the intraoral exam which was really fun and interesting. Its nice adding each thing one by one and then starting from the beginning adding the new skills. My goal is to work on my mirror skills and not bending over. Today was good.

6th day

I am so glad that I finally am feeling aqauinted with the clinic and instructors. Today we learned about positioning, dental mirrors and fulcrums. I passed off my positioning PE and feel confident on the ones to pass off next time. My goal is to become more confortable using the mirror to my advantage. No more bending and reaching to see inside, now I can use my mirror.

5th day

Clinic was good today, I felt like everything we learned we will find useful later in practice. I passed off two PEs today and instructor carter was very helpful. I was glad that I could put my cna charting skills to use. I knew some abbreviations and everything I knew came in handy as we filled out mock charts and pod partner charts. I felt like I adequately studied and prepared for clinic today. My goal for next time is to feel the same way.

3rd day

Today was an overload of information. Set up, patient history, take down, sterilize, ca duties... Its all alot to remember. I went over my post-appointment procedure PE to pass off for next time. I always think I KNOW something, but when I go to pass things off, I always forget! My goal for next time is to read all materials for that clinic and also pass of 2 PE's.

2nd day

Everyday at the beginning of clinic I feel so overwhelmed, but by the end, so far, I feel I learned new skills and am able to remember them. Without having any dental experience besides shadowing I expect to feel behind at least for the first little while, but I need to keep optimistic. My goal for next clinic is to have learned the positioning (clock times) and surfaces"worked on" in those sections.

My first day at clinic

This was a lot of information to take in, but I feel confident that I can learn everything one day! I think preparation is a HUGE part of this program: reading ahead, studying modules, PE's etc. all to be ready for the next session of class or clinic. My goal then today, is to be prepared for the next day. I'm just glad that my pod partners are all nice and willing to help! Although intimidating at first, I felt I kept up and learned many new things. I'm so excited for what is to come...

Starting the journey...

I am so excited to start the hygiene program! So many questions, but its good to know I have 29 new friends to share my concerns with!