RE-SEALANT PE

Today I had my husband come back to get his selanats done. Everything went really smooth and calm. I was able to seal all the teeth planned but one. When I had one of the modtown denists check on his tooth #4 he said that there was a little shadow and that he might have an incipient cavity. I am referring my husband then to our regular dentist just to make sure that it is or not ok to seal. I also got aquanted today in how to do the insurance reimbursement. It will be a little time cinsuming but I think I can get it done and send it off this week to our insurance offices. I learnt today that before cleaning the area with a prohy brush I need to put some water in the tooth area or prophy brush before cleaning the tooth surface area. No idea! I also learnt that I am lucky to be booked till mid february already! Hope I can keep my patients.

Keep on going...

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.