SURPRISES AND DISSAPOINTMENTS...

So, maybe I am being too critical but there has been some things that I have been frustrated with this first semester of mine in the wide world of oral health. Overall my classes were good and teachers have been very cometitive although I may not always love they way some teach or present the material. I am not sure if I am meeting the standard I set up for myself now that the semester is almost over. Grades will definately represent my learning or at least I hope so! There has been a few surprises once i nthe program and some have been pleasant and some not. I am not sure I feel comfortable with scaling with my instruments although I feel comfortable with ultrasonics (much easier and cleans much better). I am hoping I can get much more practice next semester and get the real instrumentation scaling. I must confess though that I am jealous in a good way of our instructors. It wasn't that long ago that they have graduated from the program and they seem to know it all and have answers for all of our questions. My goodness! I can't wait until that day come to me because ...yes, teaching is one of my passions and why not teach Dental Hygiene in addition to Spanish and ESL? I don't see why not although I just feel like I know nothing compared to our instructors.
In conlucion, reality has hit me over and over this semester. That was a good thing, and much learning has taken place in my brains!

With this posting I adjourn my 1st semester reflection blogging. More to come Next year!

REAL PATIENT DAY

Today, what a day! It all went well but becuase I had this constant feeling of rushing I kept forgetting little details here and there. Overall, it was a good experience and learnt how it feels to have a patient (different than a student) be sat on your chair. Probing just gets to me more than anything because it takes soooo long! and on top of that I need to have my seeing glasses because I don't see anything without them so yeah! definately I need to purchase the super seeing anything goggles for next semester or I'm going to be in trouble!
In another note, having a 1B class patient is a really nice thing because scaling is not going to be a hard and almost no calculus to remove for the most part so it is a nice thing to practice on until we get the bone loss patients.
Also, I liked that I was able to take x-rays on my patient. They didn't turn out real bad at all which gave me so much peace of mind! I did have 1 retake on my PA but, it turned out really good also. I am excited that this day is over with and that we get to rets for a few days before the next semester starts. I feel accomlpished and 1 more micrometer comfortable with being a dental hygienist.

BEING THE PATIENT

So helpful when you know you need to be the operator next. I seem to overall preform much better and feel more organized. Today I was the patient and I was able to observe and feel the instrumenting touch from my operator. I kind of liked it and realized that she was not only pecise but right on target. I hear how calculus sounded at times and it help me know that feelings sound a bit different than calculus. I still don't think I have the touch to know of the difference yet although I know there is one. Also, I realized how much little time we have to do so much and I am trying to feel as prepared as possible to be patient effective. I am excited for the 23 rd patient when the real deal is going to be! I am a bit nervous although confident that som sore of good outcome will take place.

OHI KIT

Well, I was trying to gather at least 10 items for my OHI kit and realized that many things I don't have as easy of an access as I anticipated. Also, I realized how many things cannot be found at regular groceries stores but more at dental offices for example. Literature can be printed of the internet but I am having a hard time with some of the literature since some things about periodotal disease for example doesn't completely say what I would like it to say. I am hoping I can find the information I seek and think is beast to educate my patients from already done literature, if not I see myself making my own oralhealth literature.
Also, I was lucky enough to be able to get a hold of the dental office where I used to work to seek for help and obtain some of my OHI objects to complete my OHI kit. Definately a life saver!

community health class

I was preparing with my group to get our community health project and realized that we could really do this project in our community! Not that I didn't think we could before but hit me suddently that our project could be a start in preventitive oral health. Also, I am happy that I am able to know more of the process behind a project of this kind. IN reality there are many children and other members of our community that don't enjoy of the benefits of oral health. I am not sure how this could always be fixed but I am an advocate of many bandages which are projects like our group: "Sealants for a Healthy Smile!". Also, I was able to learn how everything that we use and get from other identities or companies must be recorded in our project to be honest in the action that we take. Also, we need to be careful that results from the project need to be as accurate as possible not to show any bias of any kind. Overall, I feel that this class is giving me not only more knowledge but perspective of our communitie's needs and how to take action correctly.

ANATOMY PROGRESS...

So, I am finally feeling more educated with the science behind the tooth formation, nerve, blood, franwork and other characteristics of the teeth's world! Also, I feel I am learning a lot about the sorroundings of the teeth which is the mouth in general, head and neck as well.
I have become to understand how it is crucial to have this type of knowledge. Knowing the anatomy of the teeth helps us know that there are many atructures outside and inside of a tooth. This class makes me more confident that I am learning not only preventative oral health but the tooth structure and its sorroundings that may be invaded by biofilm, bacteria and later on calculus.

MOCK PATIENT DAY

Today it was a good clinic day. I thought I was going to mess up the whole routine of seeing a recall patient but it actually didn't go as catastrofic as I anticipated. I am thankful for good instructors and TAs that care about you and help you complete whatever assignment there is to be for us to do. I liked that I was able to see my probing readings with my regular glassess (which I didn't forget! thankgooness...) but I must admit I still truggled with some details like for example the ultrasonic. Luckily I was able to catch all spots of calculus in my patient but 2 so...one of the two things happened: that I got lucky and knocked those calculus spots somehow?? or that my patient just had two calculus spots. I like to think half and half that way I keep myself going. Our real patient experience is coming up and I am excited to work on a person other than classmates. I am also excited to be able to still practice some more before this real patient experience happens. Overall, I am really excited for next semetser because I get to practice more and more. What I am not excited about is having to convince people I know that 4 hours is going to be the lucky number!

ORAL B GUEST SPEAKER

Horrible experience! If I didn't get a free toothbrush I would have left the presentation. I am not sure what the Oral B company found on the guest speaker because certanly she is not a seller, people's person, tacticle nor friendly but fake, aggressive, pushy, arrogant and not with many answers to questions...So, I am glad it was over with and for the record, NO, I would never recomend Crest Pro-health toothpaste nor the mouthwash since they really have a component that causes stain whetehr this one rep wanted to admit it or not. Also, I didn't like that she had the "convincing attitude"
towards Oral B products rather than presenting the good qualitities the products have and choose for yourdelf kind of thing. The sonicare rep was the most elegant, sophisticated, educated, tactful and real, down to earth person that never down talked Oral B. In the otherahdn this Oral B rep down talked Sonicare many many times, so...Way to have low class Oral B rep!
Bye now :D

RADIOLOGY REFLECTION

I didn't start the DH program with much radiology experience and that made me nervous. After all of us introduced themselves and shared their many experiences with dentists I realized I didn't have almost no experience with x-rays at all! So, I found myself diving through what the radiology world it's all about. At first it seemed like I wasn't able to keep up with the conepts and radiology lab was very stressful (especially when all my peers knew exactly where to position the tube head!) Well, tha thanks to my peers help,advice, instructor's patience and a lot of studying and reading through PEs I feel comfortable I will be able to at least take (hopefully) decent diagnostic x-rays. I feel like conventinal radiographs ar emy forte. Shick it's okay although I find myself almost re-taking some and XKanex is not my thing really although I must confess its a reallt fast and cool way to take radiographs. In fact, most of my lab peers preferred Xkanex over any other type of x-rays. I have learnt BWXs, PA, Vertical BWXs, Panoramic X-rays, Bisecting X-rays and Occlusal x-rays. I feel that bisecting is the hardest and that BWXs are the easiest for me. Overall, I am happy that I got a hang of the class even though it was almost towards the end. I am also happy that I don't have a radiology class or lab since for some reason those are just a stress relief to me!

PRACTICE & PE DAY

So, life seems to get better the more I am able to practice on my peer's mouths. I am sure glad thought this semester is almost over with for two reasons: 1. I feel more confident with the general concepts taught and 2. I sure need a brake and play for a few weeks before the real pt deal. I think I don't ever want to use the Air Powder Polisher on anybody unless they have really bad stain because I can still feel sore spots from having my Peer pawl pass his PE. Also, I liked that we were able to pass off 2 PEs today that go hand in hand with each other. I need all the fluoride I can take and I liked that we had some more applied on out teeth to pass off our PE. I sure like that feeling of accomplishment after a good day of clinic. Life just gets better each day! :D

THE DENTAL HYGIGNE CARE PLAN

Today, we were ablt o learn more about how a hygiene care plan is done, presented to the dentist and presented to the patient. Also, we were able to learn much more about how important it is to do the best you can to prevent and maintain oral health in our patients. It was interesting to me that Proffesor Costley told us her expeirence on how to gain your patient's trust especially if they are terrified of the dentist. Little to begin with and more progresively may help our future scared patients come back. Also, I liked that she presented the concept or idea of doing as much cleaning as possible but if patient can't afford the whole treatment or no treatment at all to spend the most time educating our patient with her oral hygiene habits and behaviors. I didn't really give it thought from this point of view or perspective but it makes sense to compromise with our patients when not the perfect plan is the one they can afford or compromise on. Overall, it was a really long class )it felt like draggy) but intesresting to get to know all these details about care planing which I think we will be exposed to more often than not when we get ourseleves into the workplace!

SEALANTS

One more thing we know now! Well, for me it didn't seem that hard although I really need to thank my pod partner because she almost couched all the way through it. I felt confident though and hope to seal my patient's teeth if possible on the 23rd. I am really for preventive oral health!

AIR POWDER POLISHING

Definitely not my favorite! For some reason it hurt my lips, gum and ear lobe! Yes, my partner polished my ear lobe and that felt weird although it was really shiny!! We had a lot of fun though because we were able to laugh out way through it. I learnt that when polishing you are supposed to apply three points of pressure per tooth surface (3 for buccal, 3 for lingual) and then adapt the rubber polishing cup to the occulsal surface to make sure all the pits anf fossas are reached. Also, I learnt that flossing can be done in the very back of your teeth where no contact is existent, so the distal of your teeth # 15 for example. Also, I have learnt how to best brushed and angle the toothbrush 45 degrees toward the gum line for best results. Also, I learnt that I could get 4 sealants in my own mouth! I am excited for preventing possible carious lesions in those pits of my mostly premolars. Overall, It was a very good learning experience and also I was able to find the fun within the learning experience!

Finding a patient for Nov. 23rd

Well, that's a challenge already! Why? because I thought I had someone solid and just cancelled a few hours ago. So, on the hunting mode again! Just hope I am able to take X-rays on the new patient I find so that I can complete the radiology assignment as well. So...whish me luck! Any hints on how I can sell my so far new skills to people for 4 hours non-spot?? Because I am open to many suggestions.
P.S. If you happen to know of someone that could be available please let me know!

INTRA-ORAL CAMERA

I have never used an Intra-oral camera. I liked it and I see the benefits of being able to see what you indirect vision mirror abilities and eyes can't see. The one things that I thought it was hard is to coordinate where you want to camera to be and where you are going. It is even harder that trying to manage indirect vision in the mirror. But overall, I was able to take 4 pictures and see some corners here and there that I wouldn't have been able to see if I wouldn't have used the intra-oral camera. Another thing that happened today is that I realized I am not mastering the anterior instrumentation, not even close! I am having a hard time trying to adapt the last 1/3 of my Nebraska tip subgingibally. I felt unsecure and even though I miraciously passed my PE I didn't feel I was there yet. One of the instrutors gave me the site of an on-line video that I can watch in order to expand my knowledge and observe how instruments in general work and how is done. I hope I am able to get better and definately this is a great step to start!
P.S. I really need my focal glasses. I just can't see that well without them!

SEMESTER REFLECTION

I was just wrapping up this nice and long weekend when I realized that not much longer is left in the semester. Also, as I gathered my thoughts, I thought about how much more I know than simply brushing my teeth, or know how to flosh...it is the knowledge behind the curtains that will let me treat a patient in the future that makes me feel more and more confident about my new profession. I also gave some thought about keeping in touch with my teaching degree. I think it would be a good combo for a while to be able to teach Dental Hygiene as well as practice Dental Hygiene. Also, I like the idea of getting my master's degree in the future to teach at a college level and enrich that way my proffession even more. I am not sure what the time line in these goals are but, I am confident this is going to be a good education plan for me and my family (as it will reflect on them and their quality of life).
Overall, I feel like even thought it's been more of a surviving experience things are coming along in general and I am able to grasp most of the concepts presented in our differnet classes. The key? for me it would be keeping myself organized nad having all my materials ready before class. Is it easy? It depends on the teacher although overall is very possible. Am I going to make it okay to the end of this first semester? Probably yes. There you go! More to come this week!

INSTRUMENTATION ... AND MORE!

So, times goes by so fast that I realized yesterday that having to find a patient is just around the corner. This means that this semester is almost over and the fun part is just about to come as we feel more and more prepare to really start making cleanings! It has been exciting and it feels good that we have been able to learn and practice with anterior and posterior instruments. I have learnt that we use our Nebraska to cleans anterior teeth and, Barnhardt to clean the posterior teeth. I learnt that with the barnhadrt we focus on the interproximal areas and our strokes are suppoused to go against the distal or mesial to the tooth and lingually. That stroke has been hard to grasp as I am not used to these two motions together. I am excited to be able to practice these two intruments better on Monday. I feel that many practical concepts have been presented and clinic and that little time has been provided to practice over and over. But I was really comforted to find out that professor Costley arranged it so that we get more time to practice our instrumentation more and more and feel really comfortable with them.
Overall, this semester has been very productive although I feel I haven't been on top of things like I would have liked to. I am little by little getting a hand of things and because of that each day I feel a micrometter close to the closing of the first semester!

Good times...it just keeps getting better... :-D

The art of probing isn't that easy...

Hey! So...today I had the hardest time to get to my pod partner's col area. And guess what I was doing wrong? Well, I was not angling the probe parallel to the contact area. So, instead of passing the PE today I will pass it next week and that way I will still be on time and at the same time I will feel like I know what I am doing and, most important of all, I am doing it right 100%. I realize how important and necessary the gaggles for seeing better are because when probing today I felt extremely hard to know if my probe was on the 2 or on the 3. I felt kind of unsecure that I may not be giving the right readings. To fix this one I will be using my regular seeing glasses and know that when it is closer to the black line it is closer to a 4, and when it is farther away it is more likely to be a 1 or a 2.
I felt a little bump to know I would be better off passing my PE wednesday instead although I feel more confident I would be getting a better evaluation.

The Art of Probing

Probing was definately getting closed to the real deal! I thought it was hard to work into my fake mouth and not so much in my pods partner's mouth. The one thing that I realized, as I was probing, is that I needed to get a more feel for the distal areas. In general probing felt relaxed and more natural than not. I didn't like probing in teeth that had braces on, it was hard. But the overall experience was neat. I definately need to get myself some glasses because it was hard to see the spots that were posterior either maxillary or mandibular. I was also off by 1mm when I got the readings wrong. It was of comfort to know that it is normal to be off 1mm and no more than that, so that felt accomplishing somehow. I believe that probing is very important as we are able to detect early periodontitis and treat it before it goes to a more serious condition.

Miriam

My baby is getting so big already!

Hello again! In a different note I just realized how big Aubrey looks! She is without a doubt growing too fast for her mommy! Enjoy pictures taken today! P.S. Proud daddy making the fam some lunch!

RECAPITULATION OF LAST WEEK

Hello!

A lot of learning has taken place in my brain this last week. To start with I learnt that UDHA is a gppd resource to learn more about the dinamics of Dental Hygiene as a profession. Also, I learnt that there are a lot of Dental hygienist out there from many other Dental hygiene schools in Utah! I thought there were only a couple more Dental Hygiene Schools out there so to my surprise my competence multiplied X6!

Anyhow, I was able to really get a feel for probing with real teeth! Megan (my pot partner was a champ!). Probing felt and being able to use intruments in a real mouth full of teeth became second nature for me! Definately lots to learn still although exciting to know the more I am able to learn the more contact with a real mouth I am about to have!

In community class I was able to realize I do not agree that people that are in jail receive dental hygiene care, or even dental care because they are getting a second chance when a lot of people don't even get a first chance in the US and in many other countries. They are probably going to die in jail anyways why do they even need teeth? Are they eating stake? because they should eat roman noodles and taugh it up! They are there for a reason and our taxes are already giving them a nice place to stay, workout, eat, ....they probably got most of their oral heatlh problems due to drugs and alcohol so...isn't this clear enough??

Overall, good week. lots of stress and good feelings.

Miriam

BP...

Blood Pressure taking is one of my favorite. I must confess though that I did dislike that idea the first time I was introduced to the concept; it just sounded really confusing and worthless. But, as I was able to tlearn more anout why we take BP before treating patient's it made sense that High BP patients should be treated since their health is at risk. Also, I was able to get a good feel for how the arteries blood pumping pressure sounds like.
As my future goal I intend to take all my patient's BP to ensure a quality treatment and a good start.
Overall, knowing how to take BP on patient's and understanding the parameters makes me feel more professional and knowleageble. I'm liking this!

WOMEN'S HEALTH CONNECTION

Hello Fellas!

So, Women's Health Connection was a riot! Just want to point out that I was able to translate from English and Spanish and vice verse A LOT (which was a neat experience), also was able to preform an extra oral exam and saw oral cancer signs in one patient . I think the thing that I could improve on is feeling comfortable at naming the teeth numbers while exploring them and feel a bit more comfortable at saying the location of the caries in a tooth i.e. Occusal, lingual on number 16.
I have as a goal to know and feel comfortable with the teeth numbering system as well as the location naming. Also, I want to be able to be an expert at doing extra oral exams. I realized how important those are since I was able to preform an intra oral exam in a patient that just had oral cancer surgery. This patient was literally missing half of her palate and it took me a couple breaths before starting her intra oral exam.

Overall, WOmen's health connection was a good experienced and even thought I felt nervous I was able to get excited about "Hands on" Dental Hygiene.

Health History Paper Work

Well,

The new thing in town now is to learn hot to properly fill out a Health History complete paper work. It has benn interesting in how detail oriented this paperwork is. I have been able to learn how important this paper work is and how it helps hygienist to ensure the patient's overall health and not only the patient's oral health.
In getting this health history information I would prefer to interview the patient instead of letting the patient fill out the health history forms. ai feel that you are able to communicate better and be more efficient overall. Although, as I have to come to find out yesterday in Hygiene class I have learnt that most officess prefer to have the patient fill out their own Health history paper work. I can see the benefits of this methof instead of the interview methods; time consuming is one of them.

Overall, I feel a bit more of an expert in this Dental Hygiene world. It feels good to get to know more and more each class!

PE's

Today I was able to pass three PE's and it felt like I was finally getting a hang of things. I like that we have TA's that can explain procedures and protocol with their "Street Talk" since it makes it much easier to understand. I also liked learning about Patient's charting. I think it is a good way of tracking patient's health before cleanings. I am not sure I enjoy as much clinic when I am trying to catch up to information that I haven't grasped the first time presented. I believe that by asking questions though I can easily grasp those questions even if they sound silly. I like that our instructors and TA's openly express how important it is that we ask questions even if those are silly because it shows thinking and also it helps students not have one little doubt about anything.
Overall, I am liking my clinic and being able to pass PE's; It feels good!

PICTURE TIME!

This is my daughter Aubrey and my sister Ester. Ester is visiting me for the summer from Spain. She is soon going back to get herself started with one more year of Junior High. I have truly enjoyed her as she has been the biggest help in moving to our new house and babysitting Aubrey as I have gone to school this week. I am really going to miss Ester although I will cherish the great times together this summer! Thanks Ester!

I MADE IT TRHOUGH THE FIRST WEEK!

Hello bloggers!

It looks like we have made it through the first week allright! I can't believe how slow it's gone at times! I have decided I really like anything that has to do with clinic and labs, "hands on" activities is really my thing! Well, I must confess my little frustration with the program Eaglesoft. First, the computers weren't working well the day we got introduced to Eaglesoft for the first time and then I become to find out that my name wasn't on the list correctly. For almost a week I have been "Megan Wolsey" i nstead of "Miriam Wolsey". Luckily Mr. Salomón helped me out with this one and was able to have some time after clinic on Wednesday to finish up scheduling myself as a hygienist for the rest of the semester. Even though I felt frustrated and stressed for feeling behing I must say that Megan Guillespy stayed with me in clinic and helped me gather up my stuff instead of leaving me there. I couldn't have asked for more team work that day! I came home truly thinking about how great it is that we, as the Dental Hygiene 2011 graduating class have not only the desire to learn but also the desire to help each other as needed.

Since Wednesday I felt overwhelmed by the Radiology class speaker although at the same time I was able to review some of the concepts previously learnt in my science classes.

Friday was great! I just like the way professor McConahay helped us think about our profession and some ethical issues or controversy that may face us while studying in the program or after graduating. Also, it sounded really fun the Power Point Slides of Professor Bosenberguer when she told us all about the China trip. Unfortunately with a little baby girl that won't be an option for me this year although I ma excited to hear all about it from the sudnets thart decide to go!

Good Times...

FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL

Hello everyone,

As asked, I will be blogging the adventures of the Dental Hygiene Program. As I thought about the first two days of school I realized how much chinese I have heard! Yes, a lot of new concepts that I just didn't know and have been able to get familiar with in these couple of days. I have liked being able to get to know your names today at professors Perry's class. I feel like thanks to this activity we are now less extrangerors to each other. Also, I have been able to learn A LOT in professor Costley's class. I appreciated some sense of humor in the class and the Power Point's Slides printed out since, that way, I was able to focus more on the content being presented.
Last, but not least, I liked that from the very fisrt day we were able to do a "hands on" activity in our Radiology class where we took a BWX x-ray into "Dexter the doll" (what a weird name he got! :D)
I feel like even thought many other concepts will be arriving soon to my ears, I am confident that as a team we will be able to strive our goals as we go along.

My Family

Here is my Family: my husband Ryan, my daughter Aubrey (4 months) and me.

Orientation Day

Where to start?...Today I had all source of information come at me! There is a lot of details I need to keep up with! But, most important of all, I saw the beggining of this dream of mine come true. Hope I survive, so...Pray for me! :D