Kid Day!

Dace and Ryan were my patients today. I was so excited for my nephews to come in and I was so proud of them! They were amazing! Dace was the perfect example for his little brother. We took BWX of Dace. I found out that the conventional film was too big for his mouth. It also didn't have any give so it was poking him in the floor of his mouth. He was a trooper though and we did two scanX bwx. I really need to start doing conventional and schick. I haven't done any films with these two methods. I was hoping to get started today, but I'm glad I was able to get some xrays taken. When I took Dace in to polish his teeth he was fantastic! He was really curious too. He wanted to know all of the tools I was using. Dace was a great patient. His reward for today? McDonalds! haha :)
Ryan did really well for how young he his. Ryan is only two but he let me take a peek in his mouth and give him a ride in the chair. He was so excited about his new tooth brush too. It had Lightening McQueen on it! He was a little leary when Instructor Demmings came over. He wasn't so sure if he wanted a stranger looking in his mouth.
I'm so grateful that my mom and sister were able to come and help me out today. Now I only need one more child to come in this semester. Now that I have a little extra time, maybe I'll practice my scaling PE.... What a good day!

Positivity!!

My patient today was a friend of mine from choir. Today was the first day I didn't work on a family member. My friend asked for a cleaning and I'm so glad! I needed a patient for today and things all fell into place. I was even able to take a FMX. She had never had one before and she is nearing her 30s. She was totally fine with the prices and everything! I'm so so so glad! I am going to have to get her a gift or somethin. I big thank you is in order.
I wasn't able to get to scaling today...I'm ok with that I was able to get a lot of xrays taken care of. She is coming back in next week. Things went well today. I feel like clinic is getting better and better. I just have to keep a posistive attitude and everything will work out!!!

I'm on a roll!...Well, sort of...

Well today was definately a Monday. My loving sister was my patient. I'm so grateful she was able to come in. I had to start and finish scaling her mouth. Thankfully I got all four quadrants done along with my daily PE. I did the intra oral camera PE today. Taryn had a few teeth that need sealants and so I took pictures of those teeth.
On my first quadrant today I took awhile...a long while...When Professor Costley came over to give me a scale check, she told me that she wanted me to do all three remaining quadrants in the time it took me to do the one quadrant...YIKES!!
I'm happy to say that I made it through my appointment today and my patient came out of the chair calculus free. Everything went well. I'm just glad the day is over....now its time for tests! Bleh. Wish me luck!

Calculus finder!

My goal for today was to finish my patient. My patient today was my mother and she was an excellent patient. Last time she was in I was able to get one quad done. So today I only had three remaining. Along with the three quads I was able to pass of another PE and take and Xray of a tooth that is giving her trouble.
I felt like things went really smoothly today. Intsructor Hafen helped me a ton. I missed one little spot of calculus that was extremely interproximal. She helped me to feel it and then to use another type of scaler to find the calculus. I really like the way that she teaches. Its super helpful and shes very complimentary.
I had a great day today and I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of things. I'm trying to find little ways to keep succeeding.
My goal for the remaning appointments is to pass off a PE each time. So far so good! Three down! :)

One day at a time!

Each day seems to get better and better! Today I had my dad back in the chair and I was able to finish scaling his mouth. Today I finished three quads, polished, flossed and applied varnish. When instructor Hafen came over I had only two surfaces that needed to be re-scaled. Instructor Hafen complimented me on my scaling and said that I did a great job. She also told me that the tissues looked really great.
I'm starting to feel more confident in my abilities. My goal with my next patients will be to finish them at their next appointment. My mom and my sister are up next and I was only able to get the OD done with them. I'd like to scale the whole mouth when they come next. I can do it! Today was a great day and I feel like I did a good job. I'm excited to see what happens next time. Each clinic session seems to be getting better and better!!!

Dads day

Today my dad was my patient and I feel like things went a lot better today than last time. I was really flustered last time. I think I was anxious because it was my first time working on a patient this semester. Today I was a little more relaxed. My dad was a great patient and I was able to get a whole quad done and pass off a PE. My goal for this semester is to get atleast one PE done a day. I have to look for what I can pass off on my patient for that day. Next time I can pass of the polishing PE on my dad. I've decided that when I call and schedule a patient, I'm going to look through and see what I can do that day.
I had a good day today. I think things went well and I'm improving. I can only go up from here. Think positive!

First Patient..well, this semester!

Oh boy...What a day! My mom was my patient today and it was definitely an adventure! I tried to study things to be prepared for today but its been so long since we worked in the clinic. I forgot some tiny things that I would suddenly remember as I was working. My goal today was to get through one quadrant...and I did! I'm so glad. This means my mom will only have to come in for one more appointment. She was great and was really patient with me.
Things went well, but I think that I made myself nervous. I just need to calm down and realize that I can do this. I shouldn't worry about how great I am now...its going to be a process and I can only hope that I'll continue to improve. Wish me luck for next week!

Spring Semester

I'm back! I can't believe my Christmas break is over. It went by so quickly! Today I had clinic and I felt like I was starting all over. I couldn't remember a thing! Thankfully things started to come back to me as the morning went on. We learned more about the ultrasonic and how to use our Gracey instruments. I really like these instruments. They're designed to help with perio patients that have pockets and heavy calculus. We didn't work on one another today. Today we used our typodants. Lets just say Fred got very wet....
I'm excited to be back. I think it will be a good semester. Wish me luck!!!