Today in clinic we had a practice day. It was so fabulous. I was able to practice using the explorer and probing again. It came much easier today than it did the other day. Today we also went through all our instruments and learned what they are for and what areas of the mouth to use them in.
All-in-all it was a great clinic day.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Explorer
Today in radiology we took 1 half mouth series on the Schick sensor and 1 half mouth series using Scan-X and we also passed off two PEs. My x-rays were really quite good today. I was so proud of myself. I think that they were better today because I took a little bit more time to make sure everything was lined up and in the right spot. I didn't have anyone waiting and watching me to have their turn after me so I was able to take a little more time and understand the concepts that we are supposed to use for x-rays.
In clinic this afternoon we learned how to use our explorer to check subgingivally for calculus and any other irregularities. I was so nervous for clinic today after I read the module and the PE that we were going to work on. The PE said to go subgingivally and walk the explorer around the tooth and reach into the col. YIKES! It really wasn't that bad though once we started doing it. Luckily we had 45 minutes to just practice on our typodont before we tried it on each other. I was also able to work on my positioning and fulcrums today so I feel so much better about those two topics. Of course they still need practice but at least I'm feeling better about them.
After our 45 minutes of practicing on the typodont was up we set up our operatories to work on each other. I was the operator first and I'm not going to lie, my hands were shaking a bit. Tori was great at letting me know what felt fine and what hurt. After I had 45 minutes to practice on Tori we switched and she had 45 minutes to practice on me. She did a great job. I'm glad that we get to work on each other before we work on patients so that we know what it feels like.
I also passed off the extra-oral exam and mirror fulcrum PE today. Yay!!!
In clinic this afternoon we learned how to use our explorer to check subgingivally for calculus and any other irregularities. I was so nervous for clinic today after I read the module and the PE that we were going to work on. The PE said to go subgingivally and walk the explorer around the tooth and reach into the col. YIKES! It really wasn't that bad though once we started doing it. Luckily we had 45 minutes to just practice on our typodont before we tried it on each other. I was also able to work on my positioning and fulcrums today so I feel so much better about those two topics. Of course they still need practice but at least I'm feeling better about them.
After our 45 minutes of practicing on the typodont was up we set up our operatories to work on each other. I was the operator first and I'm not going to lie, my hands were shaking a bit. Tori was great at letting me know what felt fine and what hurt. After I had 45 minutes to practice on Tori we switched and she had 45 minutes to practice on me. She did a great job. I'm glad that we get to work on each other before we work on patients so that we know what it feels like.
I also passed off the extra-oral exam and mirror fulcrum PE today. Yay!!!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tests, Tests, and More Tests
So in the last week I have taken 5 tests! Last night I took the last one. I am proud to say I have gotten 92% and higher on all five of the tests! Wahoo!! It is so relieving to have them done. Now I have a week break before I have two more tests. Today after clinic I decided I needed a break from studying and I haven't done anything. It has been so nice.
This morning in clinic we actually got to perio probe on another student. Talk about nerve racking. Going into someone's mouth with a sharp, pointy object not knowing exactly what to do with it. When I was laying in the chair being the patient my partner did awesome. She didn't hurt me at all. When it was my turn to probe I kept hurting my patient. I felt so bad. Then Professor Costley came over and started looking at my probe and some of the other girl's probes and found out that the tips were not rounded like they are suppossed to be but instead they were flat. After clinic Professor Costley had us package our probes for sterilization and she said she would call the company and hopefully get those probes sent back and get ones with rounded ends. I hoep we can get other ones because I don't want to hurt all my patients with a flat ended probe.
I passed off the vital signs PE today. No sweat. It is so cool taking blood pressure. Not nearly as difficult as I always thought it would be. I was hoping to be able to pass off the extra-oral exam PE today but we didn't have time. The PEs that I need to pass off are stacking up. Hopefully soon we will have extra time during clinic so we can all get caught back up and not have so many PEs that need to be passed off.
This morning in clinic we actually got to perio probe on another student. Talk about nerve racking. Going into someone's mouth with a sharp, pointy object not knowing exactly what to do with it. When I was laying in the chair being the patient my partner did awesome. She didn't hurt me at all. When it was my turn to probe I kept hurting my patient. I felt so bad. Then Professor Costley came over and started looking at my probe and some of the other girl's probes and found out that the tips were not rounded like they are suppossed to be but instead they were flat. After clinic Professor Costley had us package our probes for sterilization and she said she would call the company and hopefully get those probes sent back and get ones with rounded ends. I hoep we can get other ones because I don't want to hurt all my patients with a flat ended probe.
I passed off the vital signs PE today. No sweat. It is so cool taking blood pressure. Not nearly as difficult as I always thought it would be. I was hoping to be able to pass off the extra-oral exam PE today but we didn't have time. The PEs that I need to pass off are stacking up. Hopefully soon we will have extra time during clinic so we can all get caught back up and not have so many PEs that need to be passed off.
Monday, September 20, 2010
One Long Day
Today has been a long day and I still have tons of things that I need to get done today. In radiology lab this morning the instructor talked to us about infection control and showed us everything that we need to barrier before we bring a patient into the room to take x-rays. I thought I was going to pass out. I don't know what was wrong but just standing there listening was killing me. Luckily the passing out feeling passed I felt fine and was able to complete the rest of the activities for lab. Those Dexter's have some messed up teeth. I can't get the contacts open in the premolar shots no matter how hard I try.
In clinic today we learned how to perform an intra-oral exam and what to look for and we also learned instrument grasp and fulcrums. Getting the right fulcrum and instrument grasp and positioning and keeping good posture all at the same time is challenging. I hope it starts coming more naturally soon! I was able to pass off the health history PE today as well. I'm glad that PE is done. Confusing! I hope I passed. I have 5 PEs that I need to get passed off now. Too many.
Now that clinic is over I have to go review the information for test 1 in dental hygiene class and take the test. I hope I do well. I feel pretty good about it. Then I get to go home and study for a test that I have in anatomy lab tomorrow morning. It's going to be a long night. I'm already ready to go to bed and it's only 4:30 in the afternoon. Wish me luck with everything!
In clinic today we learned how to perform an intra-oral exam and what to look for and we also learned instrument grasp and fulcrums. Getting the right fulcrum and instrument grasp and positioning and keeping good posture all at the same time is challenging. I hope it starts coming more naturally soon! I was able to pass off the health history PE today as well. I'm glad that PE is done. Confusing! I hope I passed. I have 5 PEs that I need to get passed off now. Too many.
Now that clinic is over I have to go review the information for test 1 in dental hygiene class and take the test. I hope I do well. I feel pretty good about it. Then I get to go home and study for a test that I have in anatomy lab tomorrow morning. It's going to be a long night. I'm already ready to go to bed and it's only 4:30 in the afternoon. Wish me luck with everything!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Extra Oral Exam and the Mirror
Today I learned how to perform an extra oral exam. It was quite fun and very enjoyable when I was the one being practiced on. A mini face and neck massage. Loved it!!! I also was able to practice using the mirror and probe or explorer inside someone's mouth. It's hard to use the mirror and try to direct a sharp pointy object to someone's tooth. Thanks Tori for being such a great sport. Sorry about the poking in the lips and gums. For anyone reading this that will be a patient for me next semester I promise to be better at controling the sharp instruments by then. Thats why the students get to practice on each other first! :)
After all this we were paired up with someone else in our clinic session that we have never worked on before and we went over everything starting with health history to the extra oral exam. It was fun to put it all together and work through it all to that point. MeChel, it was super fun to work with you for a while!
After all this we were paired up with someone else in our clinic session that we have never worked on before and we went over everything starting with health history to the extra oral exam. It was fun to put it all together and work through it all to that point. MeChel, it was super fun to work with you for a while!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Vital Signs and X-rays
This morning in radiology lab we took more x-rays. This time using paralelling and bisecting technique. My x-rays today were much better than two weeks ago. Today I told myself to just relax and not worry about it so much. I think that helped alot. Two weeks ago I was so worried about having good x-rays that I had really bad x-rays. We took half of a full mouth series. Thats 10 x-rays! It's going to be crazy when I have to do a full mouth and take 20 x-rays, and when they are on a patient, they are double film packets. That means I will develop 40 films and mount them all. Whoa...talk about time consuming.
In clinic today we went over how to take vital signs; blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiratory rate. Fun fun stuff. I figured out how to turn my stethoscope on so I can actually hear my patient's heart beat below the antecubital space. Last Wednesday I was really frustrated because I couldn't hear their heart beat, but as long as it is turned on it will work. Who knew? We also did more practicing in writing in patient's charts. I feel better about that now.
I was also able to pass of the equipment maintenance PE and the patient positioning PE. Clinic is getting more and more involved and I have to work to know the stuff. I'm lovin it!!!
In clinic today we went over how to take vital signs; blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiratory rate. Fun fun stuff. I figured out how to turn my stethoscope on so I can actually hear my patient's heart beat below the antecubital space. Last Wednesday I was really frustrated because I couldn't hear their heart beat, but as long as it is turned on it will work. Who knew? We also did more practicing in writing in patient's charts. I feel better about that now.
I was also able to pass of the equipment maintenance PE and the patient positioning PE. Clinic is getting more and more involved and I have to work to know the stuff. I'm lovin it!!!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Health Histories
Today was another clinic day. After a week of no clinic I felt lost. I'm afraid to even think of how I will feel after Christmas break or especially summer break. I hope I'm not the only one that feels that way.
This morning I learned how to go over a patient's health history and what I need to write in the treatment record. I can see why just going through the health history with some patients could take the whole three hour appointment. For each medication that the patient is on I have to look up the drug in my drug reference book, write down the dosage that the patient takes, how long the patient has taken that medication, and any oral adverse reactions that could occur. So, if I get a patient that is taking a lot of medications it could take a while to do all of these steps. Hopefully before most of my patients come in next semester I will be able to talk to them on the phone a few days before their appointment and get a list of their medications so I can have most of this information ready.
I was done with clinic/school today at 11:30 and headed home! I love my Wednesday schedule. I didn't have to work today so I looked forward to being able to catch up on some studying. When I got home I found the house in more of a mess than I thought it was so of course I had to clean things up. I didn't get as much studying done earlier today as I was planning on but at least I don't feel like I'm living in a pig pen now. I can't study when I know that there are dishes, laundry, and vacuuming that needs to be done so it's just better for me to hurry and get that stuff done then start my studying. Which I better get to now, since it is almost time to go to bed.
This morning I learned how to go over a patient's health history and what I need to write in the treatment record. I can see why just going through the health history with some patients could take the whole three hour appointment. For each medication that the patient is on I have to look up the drug in my drug reference book, write down the dosage that the patient takes, how long the patient has taken that medication, and any oral adverse reactions that could occur. So, if I get a patient that is taking a lot of medications it could take a while to do all of these steps. Hopefully before most of my patients come in next semester I will be able to talk to them on the phone a few days before their appointment and get a list of their medications so I can have most of this information ready.
I was done with clinic/school today at 11:30 and headed home! I love my Wednesday schedule. I didn't have to work today so I looked forward to being able to catch up on some studying. When I got home I found the house in more of a mess than I thought it was so of course I had to clean things up. I didn't get as much studying done earlier today as I was planning on but at least I don't feel like I'm living in a pig pen now. I can't study when I know that there are dishes, laundry, and vacuuming that needs to be done so it's just better for me to hurry and get that stuff done then start my studying. Which I better get to now, since it is almost time to go to bed.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Towards Me or Away from Me?
Today in clinic we learned what I felt to be a very confusing concept at the beginning but by the end I understood it pretty well. I am taking my typodont home with me this weekend to practice so I don't forget everything that I think I understand now.
We learned the proper positions to sit in our chair while working on patients and how to keep the correct posture while cleaning each area of the patient's mouth. I'm a little sore now from sitting that way today because I'm not used to sitting straight up all the time. Eventually this good posture will pay off because I won't have neck and back problems during my dental hygiene career.
We learned to visualize which surface of the teeth are towards me or away from me and decide if I need to be at the 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 o'clock position. I also started to figure out how to use my mirror and an instrument in my hands. This may sound like it would be pretty easy but I would like you to try it. Not so easy! Instructor Hafen was great with my pod and really helped us to understand the concept and know which positions to place the patient and ourselves for optimal viewing of the patient's mouth while not compromising our posture.
I also passed off two PEs today! Now I am way ahead of the due dates for PEs. Wahoo! Today was a very fun day in clinic. I am so glad we are starting to learn more complex things in clinic. In a matter of just a few weeks I will go from learning how to wash my hands properly to cleaning peoples teeth! I can't wait.
We learned the proper positions to sit in our chair while working on patients and how to keep the correct posture while cleaning each area of the patient's mouth. I'm a little sore now from sitting that way today because I'm not used to sitting straight up all the time. Eventually this good posture will pay off because I won't have neck and back problems during my dental hygiene career.
We learned to visualize which surface of the teeth are towards me or away from me and decide if I need to be at the 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 o'clock position. I also started to figure out how to use my mirror and an instrument in my hands. This may sound like it would be pretty easy but I would like you to try it. Not so easy! Instructor Hafen was great with my pod and really helped us to understand the concept and know which positions to place the patient and ourselves for optimal viewing of the patient's mouth while not compromising our posture.
I also passed off two PEs today! Now I am way ahead of the due dates for PEs. Wahoo! Today was a very fun day in clinic. I am so glad we are starting to learn more complex things in clinic. In a matter of just a few weeks I will go from learning how to wash my hands properly to cleaning peoples teeth! I can't wait.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)