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!!!!