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!