Real Patient Day!

Today my goal was to understand how an appointment goes when it's with a real patient instead of my pod partner. I was really nervous because my mom thought she had a cold sore and so I made her and my sister come just in case. It turned out not to even be a cold sore. I was also nervous that I would have enough time but, things went just fine. I started by having my instructor check my health history then I was approved to take 4 bwx and I went to take them and my mom has the craziest teeth. She is missing her maxillary cuspids, her right mandibular premolar. Plus she has enormous mandibular tori, like they are almost touching and the stick up like huge balls. However, I got the bwx on the first try:) Then we proceeded to the extra and intra oral exam. Then I did a full mouth probe and I missed a few depths and I'm still struggling a bit with that then we went over OHI and that took a lot of time because she was really interested and we discussed a lot of different things. Then it was time to dismiss her and chart. The day went very well. I didn't have time to scale but she's going to come back next semester and I will get some good practice then:)

Me as a Patient

Today I was the patient and that was a nice change. It was good to go through the check in process as the patient so that I know what to tell my patients what to expect. It was good to be the patient and hear all the things that they were told to do. It was a good reminder for the whole appointment process. Next time is real patient day and I'm way nervous to have a real patient in my chair even if it's just my mom:)

11-17-08

Today was Mock Patient day and I worked on Candace. I was so nervous I was sweating the second they told me my pt was ready. Then I felt like I couldn't remember how to go through and appointment from start to finish. As I started it came back to me for the most part. I probed the entire mouth and that took forever and I still am not great at it but I feel like I'm getting better. Then I scaled the lower right quad and I didn't realize we were suppose to try and scale as many quads as we could so I was just taking my time and practicing positioning and the different strokes and trying out different instruments and then I got marked down for the amount of time it took me to scale one quad...oops!:). I feel like I learned alot and I'm excited for my real patient day on next Monday.

PE's anyone?

Today my goal was to understand the PSR. We went over it as a pod and filled out the chart. Then we started to pass of PE's. Shalyce and I were the only two over in our pod and at first we couldn't get a single instructor to come over and pass our PE's. Then finally Prof. Costley came over and we were able to pass off three of our PE's. We passed of instrument sharpening. Even though my stone broke while being sterilized. This made me quite upset because I wasn't told to put them up since they were fragile and I had asked before. Also, I always set mine up straight however it still got broken and it's still my responsibility. Anyway I also passed of sealants and the air-powder polisher which was way better today then last time. I think last time the water and spray was turned up too high. Next time we will pass off our PSR PE and that is our last PE. WAHOO!!!

salty

Today my goal was to learn how to use the air powder polisher and to practice placing sealants on a real patient. First we watched a instructor demo the air powder polisher then we used it on each other and placed sealants on each other. I felt really good about both of these skills. It was the first thing all semester that I understood the first day that we did them. However, the air powder polisher hurts and you end up with salt spray everywhere and I didn't like the feel of that.

Practice Day

Today my goal was to practice an entire appointment. My partner was Jenny and she was a great patient. We started the clinic by learning and practicing instrument sharpening. Then we started the appointment. First I checked the health history and did the intra and extra oral exam. Then I probed the UR quadrant and my probe depths were within 1mm of the check but, I still feel I need to practice reading the lines on the perio probe. After that I did a treatment plan and then had the OD check. Then I disclosed my patient and calculated the PFI then I practiced scaling. I scaled different areas and focused on areas that I haven't practiced as much. Then I toothbrush polished half the mouth and then selective polished the other half and then I flossed the whole mouth. After that I did a fluoride treatment with gel in a tray for the maxillary teeth and varnish on the mandibular teeth. Then I finished my chart while my amazing patient cleaned up my area. I wish we could have that every time. I had made so many mistakes on my chart that I had to fill alot of it out again and fix my mistakes. It was a really good learning experience and I am feeling much more comfortable with the overall appointment procedures.

11-3-08

Today my goal was to learn to apply the different types of fluoride. I planned to listen to the demo and practice with my partner. However, today was a mock patient day and I was the patient so I just sat there while my partner practiced. I just listened and observed so that I can know what to do next time. Next time I get to be the operator and practice a complete patient day.

10-29-08

Today my goal was to learn the technique for selective polishing. Since I learned this in an office I worked in previously I wanted to make sure that I knew how to do it correctly. I planned on practicing and getting familiar with my unit. I also planned to use the toothbrush polishing. Natalie was my partner and we practice selective polishing on each other. I feel comfortable with selective and toothbrush polishing. I think the most difficult part is controlling the rheostat since I think mine is fairly touchy. Next time we will be learning fluoride.

10-27-08

Today my goal was to get more practice on scaling both anterior and posterior. I planned to accomplish this by practicing on my pod partner. First we discussed the procedure for when a patient comes to the clinic and checks in and then we went on to practice scaling. I didn't have any help or anyone watching me til I was almost done scaling. I felt like I was doing a really poor job and then when I did get help it turns out I was doing everything wrong. I was either told wrong before or understood wrong. Anyway it was good that I finally got help so that I could start to learn the correct way and now that I know it makes more sense and I just will have to practice today. Next time I plan to learn to selective polish and practice more.

10-22-08

Today my goal for clinic was to learn and understand how to scale posterior teeth. I planned to accomplish this goal by watching the pod demo. After I watched the pod demo I practiced on my dexter in every quadrant til I felt comfortable then I practiced on my partner. I feel more comfortable now that I have practiced but, I still need more practice. Next time I hope to practice more so I can be even more comfortable.

10-20-08

Today my goal was to learn how to use the intraoral camera. I planned on watching and practicing using the camera. I felt that after using it I am comfortable using the camera on a patient. I also go to practice exploring and scaling. I am becoming more comfortable with both but I still need more practice with scaling before I feel really comfortable with it. Next time I think we are learning posterior scaling.

scaling

Today my goal was to learn how to use a working stroke. I planned on practicing on the typodont and then on my pod partner. Today I worked with Jenny. She was very nice and tried to help me when she could see that I was doing something wrong. I started to feel more comfortable as I practiced. I still feel like I need to practice rolling and turning the door nob so that I'm adapted correctly. Next time I think it just a practice day so I plan to practice more and hopefully start to feel more confident.

10-13-08

Today my goal was to pass of my explorer PE and to be able to classify my instruments. I planned to meet this goal by going over my instruments with the instructor and then reviewing. I planned to practice my exploring with my pod partner. First we went over some case studies. Then we discussed the instruments and then we had time to practice whatever we wanted. I practiced exploring and passed off my explorer PE. I feel much more confident with exploring. I still need to work on perio probing. Next time I will practice that more and pass of the PE.

10-08-08

Today my goal for clinic was to get more practice. I planned to go over probing and exploring with my pod partner. I was a little disappointed because we didn't seem to have enough time. I felt like I would have benefited more from practicing exploring and probing. We did get to probe and disclose but I just felt really rushed and I felt like most of the clinic was about charting which is important but I think that it is repetitive. I still don't feel confident with my probing and I haven't practiced exploring in a long time. Next time I hope to be able to practice more.

10-6-08 PFI

Today my goal was to learn how to disclose a patient and determine the PFI. I planned on accomplishing this by watching the demo and then practicing on my partner. My partner today was Char and she had not brushed her teeth after she ate so it gave me a good chance to practice determining my PFI. It was good to practice writing in our charts. We practice the OHI section. Also we practice probing and exploring and I'm starting to feel more comfortable with it. Next time I plan to practice everything more.

Dental Screening

My goal today was to practice the dental screening and learn how to chart for the dental screening. I planned of doing this by following the clinic manual and also practicing on my patient. My partner was shalyce and she had all composite fillings so they were difficult to detect but I was able to chart all of her restorations. There was one filling that I really had a difficult time determining where it was and so did my pod instructor so that made me fill better. Next time we will be doing the PFI.

9-29-08

Today my goal in clinic was to understand the periodontal assessment and the bleeding free index. I planned on accomplishing this by reading the info before hand and listening to the instructors. Then I planned on praciticing on my pod partner. I practiced on Tandem. We probed the upper left quadrant. I was within the same readings as my instructor. Then we examined the gingiva of all the quadrants and wrote all the info on the blue and green sheets and wrote a periodontal assessment statement. I felt like I gained a better understanding of how to complete the assessment becuase I was actually having to write it down and have it checked. I also feel like I have gotten better at probing but I still need more work and more work on my indirect vision. Next time we will be learning OHI and I will pracitice and pass off my Intra oral PE and my tx plan PE.

9-24-08

My goal for the day was to learn how to probe on an actual patient. I planned on first practicing on the typodont and then practicing on my pod partner. I wish they had done an instructor demo because I felt frustrated when I started. I asked a ton of questions and had the TA's shadow me alot and I think I finally started to get an idea of what I was suppose to be doing. Mindy says we will get more time to practice and I hope we do because I need more time to practice. Next clinic I plan to pass of my intra oral PE and my tx plan PE.

9-22-08

My goal today was to practice my fulcruming and learn how to explore and use the walking stroke. I planned to do this by watching the demo and then practicing as much as possible. First we watched kim and then we practiced on our dexters. I asked alot of questions and took my time practicing. Then we had a race to set up our pods. After that we practiced on each other and I made my partner shalyce bleed alot and I felt really bad. Then we switched and she made me bleed just as much so then I didn't feel as bad because I realized it was difficult for everyone. Next time I need to practice knowing which end I should use and practice rolling.

9-17-08

My goal today for lab was to practice fulcruming with my mirror and learn to fulcrum with my dominant hand. After reading the material I planned to watch the demo and ask alot of questions. In lab we watched Mindy and she explained it all in detail then we practiced on the typhodont and each other. I struggled alot with holding my dominant hand properly and then I figured out the best way for me to hold the instrument and it felt much better. Then I passed of my mirror fulcrum PE and my vital signs PE. Next time in lab I will practice holding my instrument.

sep. 15, 2008

Today my goal for clinic was to learn how to perform an intra oral exam and to know what I should be looking for and how I should chart my findings. I planned to achieve this goal by watching the instructor demo and then practicing. After the demo we split into partners and practiced the intra oral exam. Then we switch partners and practiced the extra and intra oral exams and charted the exam. I feel confident in the extra and intra oral exam although I think I would like more practice with the intra oral exam and with charting my findings. Next time I will try and review and pass of the extra oral PE.

Extra-oral exam and fulcrum

Today my goal was to learn how to perform an extra-oral exam. I planned on watching the demo in clinic and then practicing with all my partners in my pod. After listening to the demo I practiced with Charlotte and we were able to perform the exam 2 times and on the second time we were each able to do it without looking at the PE for help. Then I also practiced on Tandem and Shalyce. Next we watched the demo on holding our mirrors and fulcruming. I felt like I really understood all of the parts of the PE and I felt like it is an important part of the exam that many private offices do not do. I also felt more like a real hygienist today with holding the mirror and practicing correct positioning. Next time in clinic I plan to see if I can remember all the parts of the PE without looking and if I feel ready I will pass it of.

Sep. 9, 2008

Today in clinic my goal was to gain a better understanding of how to take blood pressure and to practice taking all vital signs. My plan is to listen and watch the instructor and ask questions where I don't understand something and to practice on my peers. I arrived to clinic and Professor Costley walked us through the PE and demonstrated how to take vitals. Then we split up and practiced on all the other students in my pod. I felt that at first it was difficult and confusing but by the end I was starting to get the hang of it. It wasn't hard to find or count the pulse. I kept forgetting to start watching/listening to respiration right away and it was pretty difficult to hear the BP. I still need more practice. Next time I will review and see if we have time to practice some more and possibly on people that I haven't practiced on all ready.l

Sept. 3, 2008
My goal for clinic today was to gain a better understanding of how to complete a health history screening. I planned on listening to and practicing the proper procedure for obtaining a health history so that I could be familiar with what is expected of us when we take health histories on patients. In lab we were able to review the procedure and how to document a health history in a patients chart. Then we actually were able to practice on a partner and actually fill in there health history in their own patient chart. I felt like this helped me to understand how and why we need to document everything in a patient chart. Practicing gave me a better understanding of the procedures that we will use when completing a patients health history. Next lab I will review the procedure and ask any questions I still have.

Today in clinic we learn how to sit properly in our operator chairs and how to sit for each area in the mouth that we will scale. I was super confused at first when I just read the book because I really couldn't visualize all of it. Then we practiced it in clinic and it made more sense to me. I will obviously need way more practice but at least I have some idea of what I should be doing. I also passed of my first PE and I was way nervous I was sweating sooo much and my glasses kept fogging up. It was pretty intimidating standing up in front of Professor Costley and my class I barely know and telling all the stuff I had to but, I passed them off and I think I'll be less nervous next time.

First Day Jitters
So yesterday was my first official day of Dental Hygiene school...Wahoo. It feels like I've been waiting such a long time to start. The day was kind of crazy. I had clinic first thing in the morning and I wasn't sure what I was suppose to take to clinic so I just took everything...or so I thought I got to the locker room and realized I had left my lab coat in the car and my stethoscope and blood pressure cuff at home. Luckily we didn't need them. We learned and practiced a couple of process evaluations. It seems like alot to remember but not difficult stuff...at least so far. Today I had class and it was not as intimidating as I thought it would be. That was reassuring. I still am not sure that I really know what I'm suppose to be doing but, hopefully I'm figuring it out slowly but surely.

Now I'm really bloggin'