First blog of my last fall semester. I can't believe we have started into our second year. Going into this year, I anticipated feeling a type of stress that I am happy to say I have yet to feel. As a senior student, we are expected to work faster with greater precision. After 4 months of downtime, I questioned whether this new standard was realistic. It turns out that I underestimated myself. Disclosure: I do not mean to imply that I think too highly of myself. I have a lot left to learn (and much that I can improve on); but I am relieved to have made a more seamless transition into the expectations of my senior year than what I had originally expected. (Random Side Note (RSN): I'm realizing my grammatical skills need some help!).
My first few weeks of clinic have been surprisingly productive.
I am able to complete my 1B's and V's in one day! I do lose alot of time if I have to take xrays. Xrays intimidate the shnoz out of me, but of the 3 or more sets of BWX and PAs I've taken this far, I've only had to retake 1 film. I guess I DID internalize these things from last year, hehe. I re-realized that I don't have to shift the POD on its axis as much when I transition from a molar shot to a premolar shot. Anyway, point being -- I need to be more efficient with my time in the x-ray room so that I can treat my patient sooner. Any advice?
It took a while for terms like 'exostosis' to register in my brain again, but I'm remembering most of them now.
My Cc going into this year was: I FEEL SO SLOW. I've made a goal to discuss this concern with each of my instructors so that they can monitor my time closely and help me along. I've had to eliminate the tendency I have to recheck areas I have already scaled, explored, and deemed to be clean. No going back Tanya! McCall gave me some good advice about speeding up the process of probing while we were on our way back from VA the other day. I look forward to implementing that. I'm really grateful that I haven't been dinged on time management yet...well wait, yes I was once, but that was unjust (I thought). RSN: My patient at the VA realized he had to pick up a friend from the airport after I had completed 1 quad (he was a 1B). I was not excited. He came into the VA expecting that one tooth was going to be evaluated for a root canal...not that he was going to get a cleaning. Upon his realization of this AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS APPT (before I had even picked up an instrument) I asked if he would be able to stay for 2 hours for the cleaning and he said that he would...then he leaves and I get marked down for it. Whatever. Discouraging. I had woken up at 4:15am to experiment with taking Frontrunner and TRAX to the VA (DO NOT DO IT) so I was tired and now a little grouchy, and still had to take UTA home. I was in bed for the night 10 minutes after I walked into my door. Bless Heather's heart for having to look at my pouty face all the way home.
My first clinic day was great fun though! That's when I learned that I could clean FM in one day. I was all grins, even though I was still really tired from the day before. I think I drank a bottle of 5 hr nrg and 1 can of redbull that day. I caught myself hiding the can of redbull deep in the garbage can because I felt ashamed for having taken it, hahaha. Oh Tanya.
RSN: I must preface this story by saying I do sincerely enjoy VA, and I clarify this because I realize that I haven't posted anything positive about it yet. The following story isn't positive, but its true and I want to humor myself with it later. I saw a pt who was a nice enough person but his chairside manner was appalling! I thought back to VA training when we were warned about the behavioral things we would have to brush off of our shoulders every once in a while. This man kept making comments about my chest and I kept telling him he was being inappropriate! After explaining that during his intra and extra-oral assessments I would be looking for "lumps, bumps, or anything that seemed irregular" he asked if he would get his turn (as he stared at my chest). My stomach sank. Grossly inappropriate. Toward the close of the appointment he made a comment that was particularly uncomfortable and I told him (nicely) that it was time to stop with the comments and that I was a married woman! He responded, "Ahhh, does that mean I'm not getting any?" and I said, "It means you're not getting any-where." I never felt in danger, which is good, but goodness!!! He could use some manners!
OK, so enough chit chat.
What I learned from Todays Clinic:
1. First, that C.W. has the best oral hygiene habits ever! She had the cleanest mouth I've ever cleaned (except that she had abrasion and recession, which was sad to see).
2. Your dental professional knows all. Even if a patient manages to hide his/her marijuana smoking habit from you all throughout his/her cleaning, IT ALL COMES OUT when you polish. ;) What's that smell?! OHI topic -- covered!!! Thank you rubber cup!
3. Next, cold sores sucketh. I'm blessed in that everything panned out and I was able to treat his wife instead but my stress level jumped there for a while; I was the last to turn in my charts; and I learned the hard way that it behooves you to ask the patient if they have a herpatic lesion before your appointment. One little question saves you time, stress, backup patients, and plastic barriers.
4. Guilty pleasures abound in dental hygiene school. You wanna feel bad for people when their oral hygiene habits are atrocious, but you can't help but smile when you learn that they haven't brushed in weeks or that they haven't seen their dentist in years (or ever!! if fortune smiles your way). I look forward to a time when my patients' good fortune is my good fortune. ;) Reality Check: Will that ever be the case? No, really, I hope so.
5. Periodontal files help to create a ridge on burnished calculus so that it is easier to remove. Thanks Inst. Wold! You were very helpful today! I love your advice.
6. Always lead with the toe of your instrument. I know I knew that before, but today I needed a reminder while cleaning 23FD and 20ML.
7. Try as I might, my 204S just isn't that effective once you get back along the molars.
8. Clearing off thin sheets of calculus without an ultrasonic takes TIME! Kay, maybe I knew that before today.
That's enough learning for now.
Tomorrow we are delivering anesthesia to one another for the first time. No exclamation points here. Shots are not my best friends. I feel okay about giving them, but its not going to be fun receiving them. But I know I'm in good hands. ;) Do your worst Karlie! (or not your worst, whatever feels right at the moment)...
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