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!