First real patient!!!

Toady was patient day! My mom came in and I really appreciated it! I was a little nervous but super excited too! I filled out her HHX at home because she is on a lot of meds and I didn't want to waste time doing it at the appointment. I got BWX but then when I was developing them I forgot to take the double films apart so I sent them through together so I had to redo those! Then once I got the BWX correct instructor Wold asked for 2 supplementals so then I had to take 2 more x-rays! I felt so bad for my mom. We were in radiology for like 40 min! After all of that I got her OD done and checked and passed with flying colors then I only had time for OHI so I didn't even scale my first patient yet! I couldn't believe how fast the time went. Not sure if it went as fast for my mom!! hahaha! Anyway I LOVED finally getting a chance to use everything we have learned and I can't wait to finally feel calculus!!!

Finished up my mock patient!!

Today I finished up my mock patient Kayla! I know everyone is nervous about Monday being our first real patient but I am super excited!! I love dental hygiene and am loving learning more and more. To get the chance to practice and actually work in different mouths makes me happy! On another note I failed my first PE this week. Sam (a second year) reported that I had the wrong shoes in radiology as I was doing the pano pe. So McCaughaney failed me! I was soooo upset that she would report on my shoes when they just had a little mesh on them. UGH!!!!! Oh well I redid it today and so life goes on!

Mock patient day!!

Today was my turn to try out all of my skills on Kayla! I was so nervous last night and this morning. I was just hoping that I would do good and remember all that I have learned. I did! I did pretty good with perio charting I was just a little off (only by 1mm) on the uppers. Kayla has an implant so I was not sure what to do about that put I tried! I used the plastic probe and then Costley showed me the correct angles to get the measurements. This makes me so excited to finally get to see a "real" patient! One week away tell then!

Clean mouth!!

Today Kayla finished the rest of my mouth!! I sit here with clean teeth and fluoride soaking in! hahaha! Now next week will be my turn! I can't wait to finally get to practice the whole sha-bang!!

I am a patient!

Today I was the patient for Kayla!! She did a great job and it was fun to see how the flow will go when we have our patients in two weeks. I am so excited that I am becoming a hygienist! I was so proud of Kayla. She got two quads done which no one else did! The left half of my mouth feels fantastic!

Sealants and Sharpening!!

Today we learned about sharpening our instruments. Not too much to do since our instruments are still sharp!! But I passed off my sealants and I really think they are fun to do!! I was the most comfortable passing this off than anything else and I had never done them before!

Halloween!

Today in clinic I felt rushed and frustrated. I paired p with Mark for the first time and he was a great partner. We learned how to do sealants which I had never done before so that was exciting! The thing was that we had to pass off air/powder polish and selective polish along with learning the sealants. Mark was first and by the time he got his stuff all complete there was little time for mine. I rushed through and forgot to get a signature which the instructor let slide but let me know that if it happened again I would automatically fail. Today I loved Prof. Costley. She is so kind and patient and really knows how to teach! The frustrated part I will just let go. Then at home I took my ids trick or treating and now I sit down to study for the anatomy test in the morning. Studying is the LAST thing I want to do right now!

FUN day!

Today we learned how to powder polish and selective polish and we did fluoride varnish!! It was fun using a machine this time!! hahaha It made me so excited for the ultrasonic!! Next week we do mock patients where we run through a whole appointment with a partner....I can't wait!!!

Passing off PE's

Today we learned how to put a patients treatment into the computer and make a treatment plan. It was so nice to have a day where I knew what I was doing!! I guess all that work up front helped out!! Then I passed off intraoral camera and dental treatment PE. YAY for today!!

Passed off curets!!

Today we did a OD from start to finish. I got to pair up with Kayla which was fun since we haven't been partners yet. It is fun to get different partners and see in different mouths! I passed off curets and feel pretty good about it. We also probed a quadrant and then Professor Costley checked and I was right on!!! YAY I never thought I would say probing is getting a little easier!!

Scaling.......maybe oneday I'll be good enough!!

Today I passed off my anterior scaling.............barely!! I was so nervous. I didn't feel like I understood or got the best instruction the day it was introduced. I felt really defeated that day. I try to practice but because I don't feel like I am doing it right the practicing does no good. I realize that I have been practicing it wrong. Anyway back to passing it off. So I knew the due date was coming up so I went ahead and decided to try and pass it off. I told Prof. Costley I was ready even though I was not sure of myself at all!! She came over and I started. I did well on the facials but then when I went to the linguals I got all messed up and could not get the rhythm down. She told me to get up so she could show me. At that point I figured I had failed. I continued through though. I figured any help she could offer would be valuable. I just kept thinking how they said nothing makes us madder than when you come and get us and you are not ready!! Anyway as we continued on. She offered great help and showed me what to do to correct my grasp and motion. In the end she said she decided to pass me because I am understanding what I need to do and correct I just need more practice. I was so grateful for her understanding. I really feel like this was the first day that scaling made sense. It frustrates me that the instructor on the day we were taught anterior scaling did not, in my opinion, teach it very well but I am just going to have to get over that and realize that we all have off days and maybe that was hers! I am just glad to have it passed off and now I can focus on posterior scaling for now!!

OHI

Today in clinic we learned OHI (oral hygiene instruction). We used a disclosing agent, which is a substance that you swish in your mouth and then if you have and plaque or calculus on your teeth is turns it pink or purple. This was kinda fun. I learned that I need to pay more attention to #31!!!! After all of that we had some time to practice our anterior and posterior scaling. I was very thankful for this because I didn't feel like I understood it very well when we learned the first time. I am having a hard time with adaption. I am afraid of hurting the patient and so I go slow and not deep enough and in the midst of that I am hurting them more. So today the instructors gave me some valuable advice and I brought home my instruments and typodont so I will be practicing!!!

More studying.......

Well there is another two tests in radiology this week. I do not feel prepared at all. The last radiology test I bombed so I am especially nervous about these two. I am not the best at identification of xrays. I don't have the experience that a lot of the girls have. We will be tested on anatomy and then also pathology. How to recognize it on the xrays is something I need way more practice on. Better get to it!!!!

Childrens Health Network

Friday the Weber State Dental Hygiene Clinic opened it's doors for children in the community that needed dental work. These kid's families don't have the resources financially or otherwise to get the care needed. I was paired up with a second year student Sarah Morris. She was so helpful and delightful to work with. We saw 6 or 7 kids. It made me so sad that these kids desperately need dental work and can't get it. Some of the kids mouths were great. The parents understand the importance of dental health and others...well not so much. I am glad I got to be a part of this great organization and teach the kids how important their mouths are to their overall health.

Anterior Scaling

Today we learned how to scale the anteriors. The first thing I can say is my teeth are very sore tonight as I write this. hahahaha!! I don't think I did very well today. I didn't feel like I got the concept down. But on a better note I passed off the probe PE!!!!

Last week

Last week we learned how to use the explorer and also had a lesson in instruments. Before we learned what each instrument was, I mixed up the Gracie and the explorer! I felt so stupid as the instructor came over and asked what the heck I was doing!! Oh well everyone has to make a stupid mistake once or twice!!!

UDHA convention

Yesterday we went to the UDHA convention in SLC. To start the day off I had planned on riding the train with the all the girls but of course I was running late as usual and I missed it!!! The convention was at Little America Hotel. It was a very small convention compared to what I am used to. This made it kinda quaint and nice. They served us food and we sat at tables which is different then I am used to. I tried on Loupes. I am so confused on what to buy. There are too many choices!! I didn't end up buying any today. I am going to wait until I know what I want and what I like and don't like. It was a fun day to spend with all the girls and get to know them a little better!!

2nd year observation

Thursday I had the opportunity to observe the second years. I was assigned to pod 4. When I showed up I felt a little awkward because the seniors didn't know I was coming so they were surprised. I remember when I was working I hated when you had someone shadowing you all day. So I know how they felt. Tanya, Jamie and Heather were the ones in this pod. They were all really nice. Jamie's patient didn't show. I felt so bad for her. Tanya and Heather both had patients but I chose to observe Heather. She had a patient that was a class II. She went over HH and we took x-rays and we were over an hour into the appointment before she had even laid her back in the chair. I knew appointments took a long time but I was still surprised at this. I was able to observe such great things this appointment. She used the ultrasonic and hand scaled. She was also able to use the laser on the patients gum tissue. This was new for me to see. Overall this experience was a very good one!! Heather was so kind to share some great insight with me. I appreciated this experience because now I sorta have an idea of how the clinic works and what to expect as patients start coming through.

Probing......

Today we learned how to probe. I was a mix of excited and nervous! Megan was my partner....poor girl! I was so surprised at how little pressure is actually used. My grip is tight. I feel like I am nervous so I am holding on to it for dear life!! I am not comfortable with it at all. I feel like I need to practice practice practice!!!

Fun day!

Wednesday in lab we learned how to do extra oral exams. This was kind of fun!! Not to mention it sorta felt like a massage! It was kind of a lax day since the PE came fairly easily and then we had plenty of time to pass off PE's. I passed off health history and vitals. My vitals PE I passed off with Professor Costley. The other PE's I have past off with the instructors or TA's so I was a bit nervous but she was very nice and told me I did a great job!! Wednesday was a great day!!

Good Day!!

Today we learned how to take blood pressure. I had done this before so it wasn't that hard for me to pick up! Then I was able to pass off my PE's for positioning and mirror, fulcrum. and instrument grasp. The later PE was not my finest but I passed!!! I got a bit confused but wormed my way through it!! I really am enjoying school and getting to know everyone on a more personal level. This week we have 3 tests and I am a bit nervous about that. I am going to keep my fingers crossed that I am able to separate the info and do well!!!

My brain is getting tired!!!!

So I don't think I have learned this much in such a short period of time since High School.....OK maybe not even then!! ;) There is a lot of information coming at us right now and all I can think is that my brain is tired! This week coming up I have 3 tests!! I can hardly imagine how I am going to get through all of them not to mention passing off PE's in clinic. I know I will but when I look at it all I get a bit overwhelmed!! One day at a time I think is best!!

Some good.....some bad......

Wednesdays are Radiology in the morning and clinic in the afternoon. In the morning I was not feeling very good about my knowledge of taking x-rays and mounting them. I can read all the book stuff and understand the concepts but, and it's a big but, it didn't seem to help me when I was actually taking the x-rays. I haven't taken x-rays very much and it sure showed. I think all the girls in my group have been dental assistants so they are very well rehearsed in taking x-rays. I was feeling inadequate to say the least as lunch break began.

In the afternoon we went to clinic. A gourmet sandwich as I like to call my bag lunches, helped my mood a bit! Right away the topic for today caught my interest. I understand that I am an older student than most of the girls in our class and I will be 34 when I graduate. I know that my body is different then those girls and I need to be even more aware of my posture. My body has changed with getting older I can imagine that the stress I will put on my body in my career will add to the aging process so I need to be super aware. I liked hearing from the instructors and learning of their experiences. Instructor Haefen has been so helpful. She is seriously soooo good at what she does and always has a smile on her face. This helps me be excited about what we are learning and she makes me feel comfortable to ask questions and make sure I understand clearly.

So at the end of the day morning kinda sucked and afternoon kinda rocked so overall pretty good day!! I am learning that some things are going to come easier than others. I just need to allow myself to not be the best and just learn at my own pace instead of comparing with all these stellar girls!! :)

Getting closer to actualy working on someone!!!

Today we learned about how to put up and tear down a operatory for patient treatment. Then, hold on to your hats cause this is exciting, we got to try out our suction and and air/water syringe on our clinic partners!!!! Not our tooth models but an actual person!!! No..... all kidding aside I am excited to start learning different techniques and skills and be able to put them to good use. I know that I don't have that much experience in the operatory so I am just trying to soak in all that I can. Instructor Demmings is always so kind to come and show me how to sit or hold my suction so that it is better for my posture and overall easier to use. Poor Megan is my partner and I am sure she wishes she had someone that was an assistant rather than an office manager!! Maybe she can teach me a thing or too!!

We sterilized a perio probe, explorer and mirror.........stayed tuned to see how that turns out!!

Feeling pretty good so far.....

So as this week winds down I feel pretty good about it. All the girls in our class are so nice and everyone is very helpful. Sometimes you never know how a group of women will interact with each other but so far so good!! I hope that we are able to become close and be allies for each other since we are the only ones that really know what we are going through!

As for clinic I feel pretty good overall. We learned about PPE and practiced suctioning and air/water syringe. I feel a little awkward when doing this. I am know wishing that I would have gone in the back more at my office over the summer and practiced. Oh well there will be plenty of practice in the program!!

And by the way.......My key WAS in my pocket in the morning....YAY!!!!!

First day of Clinic

Today was my first day in the program. I was super excited but a little nervous too. I had no idea what to expect. You hear all of the horror stories about the program and I have been anxious all summer to get started. My schedule started by having clinic as the first thing I went to. I was happy about that! I feel like I have been going to college for 3 years now and most of the classes I have taken I will not use on a daily basis for my career. I am glad that I am now starting to learn what I really need to know.

We started out by meeting in the instructor area and go over what we would do for the day. Professor Costley also showed us the software the clinic uses. I am used to Dentrix so it was a little different but overall pretty self explanatory. We were able to get our drawers and move in all of our instruments and supplies. This made me feel like I am really doing it!!! I was so happy. I am finally achieving what I have worked so hard for.

Since my schedule is such that I have Monday afternoons off I felt like I would have a pretty easy day, boy was I wrong. I pulled out all of the homework needed for the week and was a bit surprised to see how many chapters I have to read. I spent my afternoon working through all of this and am still not done!! I guess I better get used to it.

My first mistake was also made today. I realized hours after I left the campus that I left my drawer key in my lab coat....UGH!!! Lets pray it is still there in the morning.........

Started Today!

Dental Hygiene orientation today!!!!