Easy Day

Today was a very laid back day in clinic. I'm so glad! It was rough coming back after a long break. We just broke up into three groups and covered CA duties, emergency preparedness, and filled out a survey about our clinic experience. Then we took a quiz on the clinic manual. Things went really well.
Wish me luck in Radiology...We have our practical exam today. I hope I do well. I feel confident and I haven't missed a day of class. Things should go well.
Over and out! :)

Real Patient Day!

Taryn was my very first patient. I can't believe that I'm seeing real patients already. Today was a bit nerve racking. I was flustered at first, but then I think that things started to get better. I didn't get nearly enough done. Time was flying by and I didn't remember how long this take to get done.
Taryn was a great patient and I'm glad that she was here to be with me. It was nice to be with someone that I know. She told me that I did well. Thank heavens! Everything went well today. I made it through!!

Woot! Woot!

I scaled an the whole mouth today!! I can't believe it! It went really well and Julie said that I did well. I'm glad. I told her to give me all kinds of criticism. I wanted to know if I was doing something wrong. I also wanted to know what felt good from the patients perspective. She was really good about telling me things. I hope she wasn't just being nice.
I also passed off my sealant PE and that went really well. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to do sealants at Dr. Murdocks office. I have definately felt prepared for this program with all the experience I garnished there.
Things went really well today. I have a real patient on Monday! Here we go!

One more thing!

Before I forget. . .I found my patient for next week. Mike is going to be my first victim. I wanted to choose someone that would still love me, but give me good criticism. Hopefully he still loves me afterwards! We'll find out if our love is true! hahaha ;) He's a good sport though. I'm glad that he volunteered to help me. Can you believe I'm going to be working on my first patient!? Wow. . . now I feel like a real hygienist! :)

My turn!

Today Julie was my patient and I was the operator. I thought that today was very helpful. It helped me to get the order down and I'm glad that I was able to see how things work in sequence. I have her for a patient on Wed and then come Monday I have my very first patient! Ah! I can't believe it. . .this semester has flown by.
The one thing that I was worried for today was probing. I was a little nervous on the maxillary molars. It is a difficult area to get back to. Julie was really patient with me and when Professor Costley came to check my work I only had a few spots that I miss read the measurements. Thank heavens! I just think that I need to have more confidence in myself. I can't over analyze. . .I just have to do it! :)
Wed should be fun . . I get to scale the whole mouth! Lets hope it goes well.

What a relaxing day!

Today was great! I didn't have to worry about a thing. This week we are working on mock patients. Julie and I are partners. This week I'll be her patient and next week she will be my patient. All morning I was able to kick back and relax. Julie did a really great job and I'm glad that I was able to observe her before I have to go! It was a good refresher. There is a lot to learn and I'm glad that we were able to help each other get through the appointment. Our instructors were really great to help us out also.
One Julie walked me out I had to pass off my instrument sharpening PE. This went really well and I don't have to pass off any PE's till next week. I can't believe it. . .I only have ONE more PE for this semester! Pretty soon this week will be over, I'll be the operator next week, and then I have a real patient!!! BAH! Time is flying!

Productivity!!

Man, I got a lot of stuff done today. We seemed to have a lot more time to accomplish our PE's. I was able to pass of three of them today and so was my partner, Mollee. I passed of the air/powder polish PE (always a pleasure), the Walkout PE and the Flouride PE.
Today we also learned how to sharpen our instruments and we had a demo of the ultrasonic scaler. I'm really excited to learn how to do this. I've always  been intrigued. I've always thought it was really cool - ever since my hygienist used it on my teeth.
I had a really good day today. I can't believe that after today we'll only have 5 more clinics and 2 more PE's to pass off  . . .crazy!!

Sealants

I was able to work on Mollee today and we had a little too much fun. So much fun that I got the hick ups while I was the patient. She was still able to work on me, but it was an interesting experience. We did sealants today. I was able to get three done on Mollee and the instructor said they looked really great. Sadly, I think I have two more cavities. I am not happy! Mollee wasn't able to do two sealants because of the suspicious areas. :(
She and I worked really well together and everything went smoothly today. On Wed. we get to pass of the air/powder polish PE . . .That should be fun. We get to be doused with salt . . .I look forward to it!
See you next week!

What a day!!

Today was quite the day. Leigh and I had an adventure today with the air powder polish. The air powder polish combines water with air and sodium bicarbonate to polish the surfaces of your teeth. It feels like a very abrasive process, but its actually better for your teeth than polishing with the rubber cup. Leigh and I dressed up in our sexy hair nets and "plastic bags". I found out the hard way that the foot pedal is very touchy. Leigh sprayed water up my nose. I made sure to get her back once we switched. :) It was quite the ordeal. I don't know why you would ever do that to a patient. We also got to polish, floss and do flouride today...Finally! Something I know how to do! It was really odd doing it again after such a long absence from it.
Today was a stressful day when it came to PE's... we had the dental screening PE and I sure hope that I did well. Cross your fingers!

I made it through...

This weekend was a crazy emotional rollercoaster and this morning I woke up emotionally exhausted. Amazingly enough I was able to work with Leigh again and things went very well. She was a great help to me and I had a few "A Ha!" moments while I was scaling. Anterior scaling went very well and I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. Posterior scaling is coming along . . .I do know that I need some more help with it. I'm sure I can ask a TA on Wed. I passed my PE's off without a hitch also. Things went well today. To make things even better we get out of clinic early to have a lunch in learn! Free food! This was a good start to the week. I know things will get better from here - they have too!

Great Day!

I had such a great day today. Today I was albe to be the operator and Leigh was my patient. She was an excellent patient and gave me some great tips. We went through the whole process today starting from HHX and vitals all the way through the OHI. We charted and did all of our exams. I can see that it would be very time consuming. Luckily I was able to get an idea of how it would go on Monday, so this afternoon went by really well. My instructors and the TA's said that I was doing really well. Today was a positive day.
I also had four PE's to pass off today. Before today I was worried about how I would be able to get everything done. Things went so smoothly today that I was able to pass them off without a hitch. I passed with flying colors and they said that my scaling strokes looked really good. I had a few things that I need to work on. I'll be practicing this weekend!!

Such a good patient. . . .

Today I was the wonderful patient that Leigh had the priveledge of working on. We were supposed to switch half way through today, but instead Professor Costley told us to take the whole day to work on one another and that we would switch on Wed. This meant that I was in the chair the whole time. Leigh did a really great job. She was able to pass off a lot of her PE's today. I'm so glad! I have four to pass off on Wed and this will give me more time to do them.
Leigh and I get along really well and we had a lot of fun today. Wed is going to be a blast too! I'll have plenty of time to practice and a good patient to work on. :) Wish  me luck!

Today was a good day

Today was a really good day! I was partners with Jodie today. We took turns looking in one anothers mouths and charting the existing restorations. We both found that it was difficult to tell the difference between sealants and composite fillings . . . We started to get the hand of it towards the end. After we finished charting we had 45 minutes to practice! I was really grateful we had all of this time to perfect the things that we have already learned. I've felt like we've had all of this new stuff to learn and that we don't have time to work on it until days later. Professor Costley said that the next few clinic days we would have lots of time to practice . . .thank heavens!
Now that today is over . .its time for the weekend!  Its fall break, so we don't have class on Friday and our Radiology class has been canceled for tomorrow. Sadly, the only thing I really plan on doing over the break is homework, but I do have a fun date planned with Mike on Saturday!
Its going to be a good weekend. Just have the break from school will be enough for me! :)

Purple Teeth!

We are true Wildcats! Today we used disclosing agents on each other to find our plaque free index. We had purple smiles all during clinic! The disclosing agent helps us to see the plaque that will be on a patients teeth. It was really fun working on one another today. Emily and I had a lot of fun. Brooke, our historian, walked around taking pictures of all of us and our puple mouths . . .it was quite the site!
We also had time to pass off our explorer PE. I was so frazzled! I missed things that I shouldn't have and I am so upset with myself. I still passed, so no worries there . .but I now what position to sit in! I can't believe I forgot.
Oh well, my day is half way over . . .thank heavens!

Posterior Scaling

Today was a super busy day. . . and a bit of a stressful one. We started scaling on posterior teeth. I really feel like I have the hang of it. My instructors said that I was doing really well. They had some praise as well as some good advice.
We also learned how to create a treatment plan for our patients. I'm going to need to practice! There is a lot of stuff on this PE.
After we went through each PE we had the chance to practice on one another. I practiced the scaling as well as probing. I was debating passing of my probing PE today. One of the TA's came over and said "You're doing really well . . .I'm going to go get an instructor!" I was completely caught off gaurd! I guess I'm passing it off today. It feels nice to have it out of the way. . .but it was a bit stressful. Instructor Hafen was great though and I ended up doing really well.
I'm so grateful today is over. . .that means its almost the weekend. Now lets hope I can remember what I learned come Monday!!!

Turn! Turn! Turn!

Turn! Turn! Turn! . . .Thats what we heard all day today. This morning we started scaling on anterior teeth. In the past it has been vital that we turn the working end of intrument, so we don't poke the patient. Today it was even more vital that we do so. These sickle scalers could do some serious damage!
Maren was my patient today and she was great. We had a bit of an incident when her gums started bleeding . . .but with some dabbing of the 2x2 and a few laughs we were ready to start again. She did a great job on my teeth too! The instructors had great criticism for us and it was good to have them there to physically direct our hand.
Everything went really well today. Monday is a really long day . . . this morning went by fast. Lets hope radiology does too!

We are the Champions!

Don't even worry. . my pod is the best pod ever! Today in clinic we had a race to see who could set up their operatory the fastest. Each of us in the pod had to have their op completed in order for our group to win. WE WON!!!!! We are now the proud owners of starbursts and they taste so good!
Today I also had an "Ah Ha!" moment. We had time to practice exploring and probing and I finally felt the col. Its like a light bulb went on as I was probing. I finally understand it! I'm actually really excited to take my probe home and practice on my typodant during conference!!!

Looong Day . . .

Today was one of those days. Monday - hardest day of the week. I was super tired this morning and it was horrible trying to roll out of bed. I forgot my lab coat this morning. . .so my carpool lovingly dropped me off at my house so that I could run in and grab it. When we finally arrived at the clinic I realized we were doing exploring today. . . ugh.
I was a bit disheartened because of the mornings events, but things actually went really well. I'm going to need some extra practice, but I feel like I'm improving. Emily was my patient again today and I felt bad because I poked her a little bit - I was so anxious!
Today is now over and done. I made it through. All is well. I can only go up from here. As I told Emily today, "Keep an optimistic attitude!!!"

I can breath again!!!

Stress Relief!
I finally passed of my HHX PE today and it feels so good to have it done. I think I could have done a bit better on it, but I'm just glad to have it complete. Instructor Hemphsley passed me . . .thank heavens! It is so much to remember and I think a got a bit frazzled. Oh well!
Today we worked subgingivally in each others mouths. It's time to probe. All of us were super nervous. Maren was my partner and we both got so nervous that we broke into fits of giggles. It is so difficult to get the hang of! I have no idea how to get into the Col area and sometimes I'm doing really well with the pressure and then other times I feel like I'm hurting her!
Maren said that I was doing really well. That there were only a few times when I pinched her. I guess I can only get better from here. Lets hope!

Monday . . .Need I say more?

Today was one of those days. Monday . . . the hardest day of the week. You're getting back into the swing of things and you've just had a long, sleep deprived weekend. It was so hard to get out bed this morning.
One I got to clinic things went well. We had a guest speaker so things were cut a bit short. In the time that we had we learned how to grasp  our instrument and how to do intra-oral exams. I was also able to pass of the extra oral exam PE.
I still have a few PE's to pass off, but I have time. On Wed. I have to pass off the HHX PE. . .Wish me luck!!

STRESS!!!

I am really worried about passing off my HHX PE. We didn't have time to do it today, so now I have to wait an entire weekend to get it done! I guess it will give me more time to study . . .but I'm still a little stressed.
All stressing aside, today was a good day. Our instructors taught us how to do extra oral exams. These exams are done to make sure that the patient doesn't have any abnormalities of the skin or lymph nodes. It is also a screening for cancer. We worked on each other. Emily was my first patient and then Julie and I got together.
Along with the extra oral exam we worked on fulcruming our mirror in the patient mouth. We used the standard chair positions and worked on our posture while we found fulcrum points that worked the best for us. It was a bit crazy to get used to, but I think I got the hang of it. I had excellent patients today - they were really patient with me and helped me get things accomplished.
Bonus part of today? Last class of the week! Wish me luck on my tests this weekend!!!

Lub Dub . . . Lub Dub . . .

Guess what was on the agenda today!? Vital Signs! We learned the techniques needed to take a patients blood pressure, pulse, and respiration rate.
Emily was my first patient, then the girls in my pod switched and Ashley was my second patient. Vital signs are tricky to get the hang of. I'm doing really well with pulse and respiration. Its the blood pressure that gets me. I've never used a blood pressure cuff or a stethoscope. I started getting the hand of it after a couple tries, but poor Emily's arm was going numb!
I know the feeling . . .when I was her patient I couldn't feel my fingers. Apparently blood pressure is not meant to be taken multiple times a day. It was good practice though. I'm going to take my equipment home to practice a little more. My family will be the lucky patients!

Health History . . .BAH!!

I can't believe it! This is my third week of dental hygiene! The weeks seem to be getting better and better. I had a bit of a break down over the first week of school. . . I didn't know what I had gotten myself into! Things are getting better - much better. Thank heavens!
Today I was able to pass off two of my PE's. I am ahead of the schedule when it comes to PE's. I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to pass one of them off today, but Emily graciously offered to be my patient for chairside positioning. Bless her!
Now I can devote all of my time to the Health History PE we learned today. Heaven only knows I'm going to need a lot of work on this one. There is a lot of stuff to remember when you are doing a health history with your patient. I struggle with knowing what side effects to list with each medication. We have to look up any medications listed and list the side effects that could compromise the pt in our chair.

Eight o'clock or twelve o'clock?

I started to feel like a real hygienist today! This afternoon we used out typodont and learned how to probe the correct surfaces of the teeth depending on the "clock position" we are sitting in.
We also learned the neutral working position. Your posture is key when you're working on patients. A number of problems can occur physically if you don't take care of yourself from the beginning. Instead of bending over to see the teeth, we learned to use our mirrors. It was pretty crazy!
This weekend I'm planning on taking my typodont home along with some instruments. "Fred" the typodont is going to be my first victim . . . I might even call upon one of my family members . . . Who knows!
Practice makes perfect and I'm starting to get the hang of things! I don't want to forget anything over the long weekend!!!
Over and out! :)

Week Two . . .

Many of the second years have said that the first week is very overwhelming. . . I completely agree! There is so much to take in. As a first year student you have information flying at you from every direction. Well, I'm happy to say that I survived my first week of Dental Hygiene!
In clinic today we learned how to set up the patient chair before a procedure. We also learned how to clean up after an appointment. This activity was a bit of a refresher for me. Working in a dental office for two years has taught me quite a bit - Thank heavens!!!
After our rooms were set up for patient care we had the awesome opportunity to work on one another! Emily was my first vicitm. I sat her in the chair and we tried the different suctioning techniques that are available. When I was done, we made the switch and I was in the hot seat! Emily did a great job. We had one little incident with the high speed suction. My lower lip fell victim to it . . .but no worries! It just led to a fit of giggles on both our parts.
I had a great morning. Things are looking up! It made have been stormy outside, but inside . .things are looking up!! 

Second day of Clinic!

I really, really enjoy the hands-on learning experience of clinic. I'm able to stay busy when I work with my hands. Having clinic twice a week is a nice break from all of the book work. I believe I speak for everyone when I say that endless amounts of book work can be tiresome.
When I sit down to homework after a long day at school it doesn't take long for me to loose focus. After a bit it feels like my brain is slowly turning to mush! I hate that feeling!
Being a full time student I don't see an end to this "mushy brain" syndrome (atleast for the next two years) . . .but I can show my gratitude for clinic. Clinic is a welcomed break from the endless amounts of book work. Thank heavens!!!

My first day!

Well, here I am! I am finally a part of the WSU Dental Hygiene team!
I woke up ready to start the day. Oddly enough, I wasn't nervous at all! I'm just excited to be here and increase my dental knowledge.
When my carpool gals and I arrived at the school we squished into the cramped locker room to put away our supplies and change into our clinic attire. In clinic, the first thing we did was get to know our pod. I have a fun group of girls to work with - I'm anxious to get to know them!
The rest of my morning was spent familiarizing myself with my pod and navigating my way around the lab. I'm going to have a lot to remember. There is so much going on and so much that I still need to learn. I don't feel lost . . .but at the same time I feel like I'm playing a game where I don't know the rules. I guess I'll figure it out as I go!
Wish me luck!!

And so it begins. . .

I did it!! I am now an "official" blogger!