I survived!

Well, I survived my first week of dental hygiene (at the beginning of the week I was not so sure I would, but by the end of the week I was loving it).  I have already learned a lot, but there is so much more to cram in for the next 2 years.  Today we started working on each other with the air/water syringes and suction!  I had no idea we'd be working on each other so soon.  I was kind of scared at first, but when Tanya and I were paired up I felt a little bit better about it.  We both have had the least experience, so we both felt ok with spraying each other in the face... which we did... a few times.  Ha ha.  I had a lot of fun learning how to do things and how to not do things.  We laughed most of the time we were practicing.  It was definitely a good experience.  I decided that when the BlueBoa stays where I want it to I like it, but when it will not stay in place it is one of my worst enemies.  The more and more that I am in clinic, in class, or doing hygiene homework, the more I realize how much I love it.  I was worried about being in the program, but I love it.  I would have regretted it if I had not done this program.  I have already made so many new friends and had a blast practicing.  Today has gone by so fast.  I hope I can remember everything!

Typodant Day

We actually got to start using the tools today!  I didn't realize that my third day of class we'd already be practicing with the instruments.  I got to practice on my fake mouth with the lips, which my husband thinks is really creepy.  I had a really fun time learning how to hold and use the tools.  However, it took me a little while to realize that my syringe was not in tight enough at first and I was dripping water down my leg and onto the floor.  Ha ha.  One I got the problem resolved I had a much better experience.  MeChel named her typodant and I'm thinking that I should do the same.  Giving it a name makes it seem more like a real person I guess and maybe I will try to treat it more like a real person than a big piece of plastic.  We also learned how to do charting (I had no idea there was so much information that was put into dental charts).  Our yellow "cheat sheets" make the charting process simple though.  Thankfully, the room is cooler today and I don't feel like I'm dying of heat in my lab coat.  I also passed off my Eaglesoft PE today, which I was not expecting to do.  I think being able to sleep on the information and destressing about the first day of school for a couple days helped.  Kim, the TA, that helped us today was so nice.  I'm glad she came to our pod.  She helped me feel more confident about what I was doing.  Today was a great day.

First Day of Dental Hygiene

I can't believe school has already started!  The summer went by way too fast.  Today is the first day of school, but being in clinic has not felt like the first day of school since we have been actively doing things instead of sitting in a classroom.  I think tomorrow will feel more like the first day of school.  I really enjoy being in the clinic because it makes me realize that I am finally in my program that I have worked so hard to get into.  We got to organize all of our (expensive) instruments into our own little areas, called pods.  We got to turn on the switches and practice using the equipment, which was fun.  Marian and MeChel were especially entertaining when Marian decided to practice on MeChel.  I love the other 3 girls in my pod.  I definitely think this semester will be a lot of fun with them.  We got to go on a scavenger hunt as well to learn where things are.  We learned a program called Eaglesoft today.  It is fairly simple and easy to use.  Learning to use the program will be the first subject we have to pass off.  In order to learn a little bit more about each other we did the usual sharing of the names, where we live, and who our family is.  Then our instructor decided that in order to get to know each other better we had to tell our first kiss story and an embarassing moment.  We all laughed.  It was so much fun.  I really like our instructors too.  I really think this semester is going to be a lot of fun!

First Blog Post!

This is officially my first ever blog post for dental hygiene.  The next two years should be full of stress, but also a lot of fun.  I will have a lot of fun updating my blog and seeing my progress.