Monday, November 30, 2009
All I want for Christmas
I am hoping that over this wonderful winter break that I don't loose my beginner skills of dental hygiene! I will be all by myself with a patient and a new chartless computer system! Yikes! I am a little scared that my time management may be a issue this coming spring semester. It should be interesting how this all will work out. I am going to enjoy my break tremendously! However I will be trying to learn axium and somehow keep sharp on my clinical skills. I may just ask Santa for the magical skills of a seasoned Hygienist! When I come back I will WOW everyone with my new loupes and my crazy skills!
Floss is the boss
I am excited that we are seeing patients with actually periodontal disease and things we have learned all about. I finally saw Material Alba, periodontitis, heavy plaque accumulation, and caries all on the same patient! I had my first experience with the cavitron! It was nice to use on the facial and buccal linguals. I had some hard times trying to see the rest of the mouth though with all of the water! All i kept thinking was to keep it moving and to use the sides as best as I could. I really did have a horrible time seeing though. I do plan on getting loupes but is that going to help? I dont really know how else to see past the water.
I also enjoyed showing a 70 year old patient how to floss. Believe it or not they told me they did not know how to floss. So it was pretty interesting that not everyone actually does know how to take care of their teeth. At 70 years old that is a long time to not know something like that! I am glad that at least I can make a difference in someone's health and try to get them on the right track. I think that maybe I assumed people do know how to do the basic steps like brushing and flossing. But everyone may not have had the same background or culture that teaches these things. I would really like to go to things like the MOM projects or Jamaica project maybe to teach others.
I also enjoyed showing a 70 year old patient how to floss. Believe it or not they told me they did not know how to floss. So it was pretty interesting that not everyone actually does know how to take care of their teeth. At 70 years old that is a long time to not know something like that! I am glad that at least I can make a difference in someone's health and try to get them on the right track. I think that maybe I assumed people do know how to do the basic steps like brushing and flossing. But everyone may not have had the same background or culture that teaches these things. I would really like to go to things like the MOM projects or Jamaica project maybe to teach others.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Patient's are not so patient
I finally saw my first patient and it was over all a great experience. Natasha and I worked together and actually finished our patient's appointment. I learned a lot during this first appointment. I wish that our patient would have been a little more patient because they were extremely vocal about not wanting to come back to finish and it made me feel very pressured. I wanted to be able to take my time but the way we were feeling is like we needed to finish. I do understand that people come to the school to get discounted prices on dental care, however they tend to skip out on fluoride and xrays because they don't want to spend the money. this is a little aggravating because our patient the other day really needed both done.
I really enjoyed the debridement and being able to help explain to our patient the importance of flossing and taking better care of their teeth. I thought I did an okay job scaling off the calculus but I guess I still had more to scale off once faculty checked. I used the air syringe to check and there definitely was more there that I had not seen. The probe is still scary to me because I cannot read the thing. I may just have to buy a $900 pair of loupes to be able to read the probe better! Those things are so over priced!
Our patient had also improved on their probing depth's since their last visit. It was good to see patients that have improved. I can only imagine a three hour appointment can be tiring and long. When we were done with our patient they jumped right out of the chair and was extremely ready to get out of there! I kind of felt like they were like that the whole time. So hopefully our next patient will be a little more calm and patient so I can feel like I am doing a good job and taking my time. The patient survey from that visit was rated an excellent though!
I really enjoyed the debridement and being able to help explain to our patient the importance of flossing and taking better care of their teeth. I thought I did an okay job scaling off the calculus but I guess I still had more to scale off once faculty checked. I used the air syringe to check and there definitely was more there that I had not seen. The probe is still scary to me because I cannot read the thing. I may just have to buy a $900 pair of loupes to be able to read the probe better! Those things are so over priced!
Our patient had also improved on their probing depth's since their last visit. It was good to see patients that have improved. I can only imagine a three hour appointment can be tiring and long. When we were done with our patient they jumped right out of the chair and was extremely ready to get out of there! I kind of felt like they were like that the whole time. So hopefully our next patient will be a little more calm and patient so I can feel like I am doing a good job and taking my time. The patient survey from that visit was rated an excellent though!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Calculus Smalculus
Today was my second competency for scalers! I honestly think that I know the instruments but I still had a hard time with the manakin. I felt more confident this time, however I don't think I passed because of the 9/10. I was told I went interproximal with this instrument, and I may have, but I know that it's only for buccal and lingual only. I know where and what it's suppossed to do. I think maybe it may have appeared that way but I think the whole akwardness of the manakin tied into it somehow. The manakin did not bother me last time but today it did.
I feel like I'm ready to take on some calculus. I really like using the Gracey 1/2 and the jacquette. I don't really like the 9/10 because I feel I would rather use a area specific Gracey instead.
On another note relating to my knowledge thus far on the scalers, I was not able to show that through the theory test. I thought that a lot of the questions could have more than one answer. The last questions relating to which instrument I would choose in which area was the same instrument. Well, by the data provided I figured the area specific Gracey could be used for both answers. I have a hunch that can't possibly be what was intended.
I think that once I get a patient with something to scale all the pieces will come together. It's strange that I'm excited to get a patient will calculus! When as Dental Hygienist in the making, we want our patients to be healthy and free of plaque.
I feel like I'm ready to take on some calculus. I really like using the Gracey 1/2 and the jacquette. I don't really like the 9/10 because I feel I would rather use a area specific Gracey instead.
On another note relating to my knowledge thus far on the scalers, I was not able to show that through the theory test. I thought that a lot of the questions could have more than one answer. The last questions relating to which instrument I would choose in which area was the same instrument. Well, by the data provided I figured the area specific Gracey could be used for both answers. I have a hunch that can't possibly be what was intended.
I think that once I get a patient with something to scale all the pieces will come together. It's strange that I'm excited to get a patient will calculus! When as Dental Hygienist in the making, we want our patients to be healthy and free of plaque.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Competent vs Confidence
After passing my first competency I am feeling a little more confident. Having confidence in what I am capable of doing is what everyone was telling me over and over again all week. I just didn't feel comfortable. To tell you the truth I still don't! I guess I am trying to take so much in and be perfect at these instruments because I care about it so much. I want to be good at this and I also don't want to hurt any patients. After me stressing out about the competency all week and hearing the same response from many people, I realized I was lacking the confidence I needed. Faculty, my husband, and even my mother were all telling me " You need a little confidence Tiffany". I decided that maybe I did.
So on the day of the competency test I did my very best and gave it all that I had. I passed and I was honestly not expecting to. In fact, I am still having the battle with myself again about my confidence and do I feel competent?
What I hope is that time will come and I will be a great hygienist! I wish I could fast forward this stuff and already know everything! I envy the faculty when they demonstrate everything with such ease! They make it look so easy and smooth. I look like a person going in blindfolded. Actually the funny thing is that's how I feel about indirect vision. My poor patients and student partners! This will all be second nature one day. That is something to look forward to. I am enjoying learning the instruments and it is definitely a challenge!
I think that having confidence helped me pass the competency. I might not have been so lucky if I was second guessing myself and fumbling around. So this is another lesson learned among the many to come!
So on the day of the competency test I did my very best and gave it all that I had. I passed and I was honestly not expecting to. In fact, I am still having the battle with myself again about my confidence and do I feel competent?
What I hope is that time will come and I will be a great hygienist! I wish I could fast forward this stuff and already know everything! I envy the faculty when they demonstrate everything with such ease! They make it look so easy and smooth. I look like a person going in blindfolded. Actually the funny thing is that's how I feel about indirect vision. My poor patients and student partners! This will all be second nature one day. That is something to look forward to. I am enjoying learning the instruments and it is definitely a challenge!
I think that having confidence helped me pass the competency. I might not have been so lucky if I was second guessing myself and fumbling around. So this is another lesson learned among the many to come!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
POH
I finally passed my POH on the third try. I have realized that being 92% plaque free is hard to do but well worth it. My mouth feels like it is healthier and I feel better knowing that I am brushing and flossing the correct way! I am happy to be plaque free!
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