sealants

Today we learned how to do sealants. I had never done them before but they were super easy. I worked on Cesia and she has an perfect mouth. I had my choice of any tooth I wanted. I made the sealant to high and will have to remember to not put so much on. I was also able to pass of 3 PE's. It was a very awesome day.

treatment plans

Yesterday we learned treatment planning. It was very easy and I feel like eaglesoft is easy to navigate. Treatment planning is easy however I am extremely worried about how long it is going to take me to clean a patient. It makes me nervous to schedule patients and then take 6 hours to clean their teeth. Who has that much time? The tx plan is broken up into 3 phases and I pray it doesn't take me three appointments to finish. I was able to pass of 3 PE`s, which was awesome (dental screening, OHI, and intra-oral camera). Overall good clinic day.

Intra-oral camera?? I guess

I had a really hard time today in clinic. I went in and  set-up (like our module instructed) but for some reason today we skipped our opening pod instruction. This was very detrimental to me, and because of that, I wasn't quite sure what we were supposed to do and how exactly to do it. I read the module, however  I guess I missed the part that said we are doing everything we have learned in the past and putting it into action.  I also didn't feel completely sure about how you chart an OD and actually came to clinic with questions (which I assummed would be answered in opening pod).  When I asked the instructor how to start, she kept on saying "Sierra, how do you do it?" . It was very frustrating that she kept on repeating my questions. I had to keep saying "I don't know". This made me feel really stupid, as the whole pod is looking at me. I understand instructors want you to think critically, but I honestly did not know the answer and it was extremely frustrating that she would not just answer my question. That started out my first 20 minutes in clinic. Sometimes I feel like when you start out shitty its hard to get back on track, which I wish wasn't the case. I then proceeded with my OD.  At the end of the day my inadequate feelings reguritated as it took me forever to write in the chart. I was literally one of the last people in clinic. I even had to have other students clean my unit, shut it down, and sterilize my instruments. I am so grateful that the girls in my class are so awesome and helpful because holy cow sometimes I feel extremely incapable. One good outcome of today is that I have realized that I need to be sensitive to people who are learning and trying their best. Sometimes I tend to think that when I am good at something, or when something comes easy to me, it is the same for others. This is not always the case and todays clinic made me want to be more helpful to those around me. I don't want others to feel the way clinic felt for me on this lovely monday!!!

dental screening

Today we looked in each others mouths and learned how to chart dental restorations, pathology, and appliances. It was a pretty easy day. Sometimes i have a difficult time telling the difference between sealants and composite fillings. I also practiced my curet scaling and i feel like i did a good job. It is coming... slowly but surely.

OHI instuctions

We used disclosing tablets today. That was fun!!! I was able to have a blue mouth and see where i was missing on brushing. We were also paired up with a student that we had never worked on before. That was fun too!! I also was able to pass of sickle scaler, adaption, and instrument design PE's today. I love getting those over with. I hate having them hang over my heads. All in all today's clinic was one of my favorite.

Posterior Scaling

We worked with curets today. And all I can say is that I hope I get better. I made Karlie bleed a lot. It is very trusting of her to let me into her mouth with a sharp intrument and 20 minutes of demonstation. Its funny how easy other people make it look. I will get better, I know that, but it is a learning process.