Thursday, October 27, 2011
3 Patients!
I saw 3 patients while at the VA today and loved it! I was so busy, which was so nice. Two of my patients were class V's and the other one was a class II. After seeing those three patients I went up and above my II/V requirements, which is a big relief. I hope Dr. Hanson reads this blog post because I thought of two things that we really worked on together on Tuesday and I employed them today. I "repelled" off the backs of the last molars when exploring to make sure I didn't leave any calculus on any of my three patients. I also used the V of the hand grasp to work on the anterior teeth. I love the V of the hand grasp. It was so much easier to me to access the area I was working on and I was more effective when using a working stroke. I love using new tricks I have learned. I also love when I can use a trick and see it work because then I will remember that it worked and then use it again. I also only left two pieces of calculus between my three patients, which I consider a success. (Of the two pieces I missed I knew one of them was there, but couldn't get it and just needed some help.) So, after having such hard patients it was nice to have a little confidence boost day. I plan on continuing to use my new tricks and keep getting better and better. :)
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Today
I finally finished my mockboard patient today! Yay! I can honestly say that I have improved in my skills (mostly because Dr. Hanson said I had improved and I could tell I was doing better, which was pretty rewarding). I feel good when I can get into an area and use my "twist" to get a piece of caluclus off. Dr. Hanson reminded me to use the V of the hand grasp for certain areas. I wish I remembered to use that more because it really helps me to stay parallel to be able to correctly remove deposit. I still had 3 areas that Dr. Hanson had to remove because I couldn't, but that was a big accomplishment for me on that patient.
When I walked into clinic after lunch I wish I had had my camera. Kristie would have had another priceless picture. She was typing on her computer with her toothbrush sticking out of her mouth. Ha ha.
In the afternoon my patient no showed so my wonderful mom came in at the last minute. (This is where the V grasp came in handy.) It was so cool to be able to get her all finished in a little over an hour, whereas it took me at least 2 appointments to get her done last semester. When I think about how slow I used to be it encourages me to keep working harder because I am getting better, even when I may not realize it.
In pod wrap we discussed what everyone had learned that day. Some good things to remember:
* V of the hand grasp
* Bump to the back (on the explorer so you use the correct end for the area you are instrumenting)
* Use your Graceys, which I did this morning and I even sharpened them during my appointment (it made a huge difference in their effectiveness)
When I walked into clinic after lunch I wish I had had my camera. Kristie would have had another priceless picture. She was typing on her computer with her toothbrush sticking out of her mouth. Ha ha.
In the afternoon my patient no showed so my wonderful mom came in at the last minute. (This is where the V grasp came in handy.) It was so cool to be able to get her all finished in a little over an hour, whereas it took me at least 2 appointments to get her done last semester. When I think about how slow I used to be it encourages me to keep working harder because I am getting better, even when I may not realize it.
In pod wrap we discussed what everyone had learned that day. Some good things to remember:
* V of the hand grasp
* Bump to the back (on the explorer so you use the correct end for the area you are instrumenting)
* Use your Graceys, which I did this morning and I even sharpened them during my appointment (it made a huge difference in their effectiveness)
Friday, October 21, 2011
In Case You Were Wondering
Just so everyone knows last Friday when we gave each other 7 injections Sam and I did good and used a minimal amount of anesthetic so that we could actually enjoy lunch. I got to take impressions for the first time and only had to redo one of them. I was happy about that, but sad I didn't get to take any on myself since I have braces. (I'm hoping the braces will be off at the end of November though!)
The Jackhammer
That's right I'm going to invent a new dental tool and it will be called The Jackhammer. The Jackhammer will be a mini version of the real thing because while working on my morning patient on Tuesday I didn't know if some of those pieces of calculus would even come off. Thankfully Dr. Hanson has more muscle than me and was able to crank the 2 pieces I couldn't get off off after a few minutes. My morning patient was my mockboard patient last week and I'm happy to report that I did much better on her this time around than last week. I really tried working on the tip that Pro. Alexander gave me and they worked. I worked on adapting more and getting that last good twist in. I also got to give my patient injections! I was so excited and yet so nervous at the same time, but as soon as I got the needle in my patient's mouth it was pure excitement. I can't wait for her to come back next Tuesday so I can give her more injections and so I can totally rock on cleaning her mouth (her last quad - finally!).
My afternoon patient was perfect board potential. As Dr. Hanson said in pod wrap, "it was mouthwatering" good. However my patient doesn't know if he wants to wait until March to get the other half of his mouth cleaned, which I don't blame him. March is a long ways away. I told him I would call him in a few days to see what he decided. I was a little overzealous though in doing 2 quads when he was a new patient. Let's just say I missed a few too many areas, which hopefully won't happen again. I think I need to see an easy 1B or class 5 to boost my spirits. Ha ha. Well, look forward to next week's post because I am seeing two class 3's next Tuesday.
I have to add this into my blog so that I don't forget Marianne's wonderful comment during pod wrap. Instructor Wold asked Marianne if she wanted to share what happened to her today. Then Marianne said, "Which thing do you want me to share? Because I have done so many stupid things that it's hard to keep them all straight." I couldn't agree more with her comment. I feel like I'm doing a good job and then all of a sudden I've done something dumb. I guess that's why we get so much practice right?
My afternoon patient was perfect board potential. As Dr. Hanson said in pod wrap, "it was mouthwatering" good. However my patient doesn't know if he wants to wait until March to get the other half of his mouth cleaned, which I don't blame him. March is a long ways away. I told him I would call him in a few days to see what he decided. I was a little overzealous though in doing 2 quads when he was a new patient. Let's just say I missed a few too many areas, which hopefully won't happen again. I think I need to see an easy 1B or class 5 to boost my spirits. Ha ha. Well, look forward to next week's post because I am seeing two class 3's next Tuesday.
I have to add this into my blog so that I don't forget Marianne's wonderful comment during pod wrap. Instructor Wold asked Marianne if she wanted to share what happened to her today. Then Marianne said, "Which thing do you want me to share? Because I have done so many stupid things that it's hard to keep them all straight." I couldn't agree more with her comment. I feel like I'm doing a good job and then all of a sudden I've done something dumb. I guess that's why we get so much practice right?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Stacking
Just a quick few thoughts about instrumentation. Let's start from worst and end with best. That way when I'm done typing I will be thinking about what I do well at the end.
Adaptation - most of the time I do a good job at this, but sometimes adaptation doesn't even seem to occur to me.
Recently I have discovered how wonderful it is to get a piece of calculus off by getting it from the facial and lingual side. (Sometimes I wonder how I didn't ever try some of these amazing instrumenting techniques.)
One of my favorite things I have heard in the last few days was when Dr. Hanson told me I had a nice stack. Wahoo! I am actually keeping my fingers together. I really struggled with that last semester.
I was pondering about how far I've come since last semester and I feel like I have grown in leaps and bounds. In fact, I wonder why it ever seemed so hard before since it feels so natural now.
Oh, one more thing. I was very ergonomic on Wednesday and even Pro. Alexander noticed. (I still want to be able to put on my earrings when I'm old you know?)
Adaptation - most of the time I do a good job at this, but sometimes adaptation doesn't even seem to occur to me.
Recently I have discovered how wonderful it is to get a piece of calculus off by getting it from the facial and lingual side. (Sometimes I wonder how I didn't ever try some of these amazing instrumenting techniques.)
One of my favorite things I have heard in the last few days was when Dr. Hanson told me I had a nice stack. Wahoo! I am actually keeping my fingers together. I really struggled with that last semester.
I was pondering about how far I've come since last semester and I feel like I have grown in leaps and bounds. In fact, I wonder why it ever seemed so hard before since it feels so natural now.
Oh, one more thing. I was very ergonomic on Wednesday and even Pro. Alexander noticed. (I still want to be able to put on my earrings when I'm old you know?)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The List
I'm going to copy how MeChel did her post the other day because it was direct and to the point by making a list of everything that happened (or should have happened) on Tuesday during clinic.
1) Class 3 = way hard (it's hard for me to feel accomplished when I only get one quad done for the appointment
2) I discovered a new love for my triple bend that I didn't really feel like was very useful before. I now realize it didn't seem useful because I never had a real reason to use it until today.
3) When seeing a class 3 you may as well open every bag of instruments you have because you are going to need all of them at one time or another.
4) Making sure I can look at the x-rays while scaling really is wonderful and I'm not sure how I forgot to have the x-rays up while working occasionally last semester.
5) When you think you have adapted properly, adapt some more.
6) My afternoon patient was a class 5. I thought the appointment was going wonderfully because I took x-rays (with no retakes), finished all 4 quads (with no errors), and had a decent discussion with my patient about OH. Then Pro. Alexander came over and found a lesion in the palate that I had missed and suddenly everything else that had gone so well the whole appointment didn't matter any more because that lesion should have been what caught my eye and taken precedence over the entire cleaning. Pro. Perry came over to take a look at it and we got out the intraoral camera to take pictures to show my patient what we were looking at. Then I took a PA of the tooth that the lesion was above and the x-ray showed an abscess. I showed my patient the x-ray and explained what the dark circle around the root of her tooth was to her. I also stressed that she needed to see a dentist ASAP to get it taken care of. I went home yesterday feeling defeated. I hope that that lesson always stays with me and helps me to make sure I really do make a thorough investigation of each of my patient's mouths. I want to be a great hygienist and I think yesterday was a very good lesson in how to be a great hygienist. I really do want to help my patients and I have made a commitment within myself to slow down and really think about what I'm doing. If my patients were asked to say one thing about me I hope that it will be that I care.
1) Class 3 = way hard (it's hard for me to feel accomplished when I only get one quad done for the appointment
2) I discovered a new love for my triple bend that I didn't really feel like was very useful before. I now realize it didn't seem useful because I never had a real reason to use it until today.
3) When seeing a class 3 you may as well open every bag of instruments you have because you are going to need all of them at one time or another.
4) Making sure I can look at the x-rays while scaling really is wonderful and I'm not sure how I forgot to have the x-rays up while working occasionally last semester.
5) When you think you have adapted properly, adapt some more.
6) My afternoon patient was a class 5. I thought the appointment was going wonderfully because I took x-rays (with no retakes), finished all 4 quads (with no errors), and had a decent discussion with my patient about OH. Then Pro. Alexander came over and found a lesion in the palate that I had missed and suddenly everything else that had gone so well the whole appointment didn't matter any more because that lesion should have been what caught my eye and taken precedence over the entire cleaning. Pro. Perry came over to take a look at it and we got out the intraoral camera to take pictures to show my patient what we were looking at. Then I took a PA of the tooth that the lesion was above and the x-ray showed an abscess. I showed my patient the x-ray and explained what the dark circle around the root of her tooth was to her. I also stressed that she needed to see a dentist ASAP to get it taken care of. I went home yesterday feeling defeated. I hope that that lesson always stays with me and helps me to make sure I really do make a thorough investigation of each of my patient's mouths. I want to be a great hygienist and I think yesterday was a very good lesson in how to be a great hygienist. I really do want to help my patients and I have made a commitment within myself to slow down and really think about what I'm doing. If my patients were asked to say one thing about me I hope that it will be that I care.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Injections
Wow, I need to remember to blog, especially because I feel like I know what I'm doing now so Clinic is more interesting and more exciting. However, my post today is not about Clinic. It's about local anesthesia. So the last 2 Fridays we have given each other injections. 2 Fridays ago we gave and received 4 maxillary injections (PSA, MSA, Greater Palatine, and Nasopalatine). Sam and I were partners and I have to say that I think we did a pretty good job. I have to be honest I have never been a fan of needles and last semester I didn't know if I would have the courage to actually give an injection, but oddly enough I loved giving the injections. I was excited for the next Friday to come so I could do it again.
Well, a week passed and it was Friday again. Last Friday we gave 3 mandibular injections (IA, long buccal, and mental). I was amazed at how well the landmarks in the mouth help to find the correct injection site. It was nice to have more confidence while giving the injections. I thought it was kind of crazy how far in the needle goes to give an IA, but the more I think of the anatomy of the mandible the more sense it made. One of the most important things I learned that day was if you want to make sure you're going to get numb you should have Sam give you your injection because I was numb for a good 3 hours. Next week is nitrous, which I'm not too excited for, but the week after that we get to numb half a mouth. Then we get to start numbing our patients. Wahoo!
Well, a week passed and it was Friday again. Last Friday we gave 3 mandibular injections (IA, long buccal, and mental). I was amazed at how well the landmarks in the mouth help to find the correct injection site. It was nice to have more confidence while giving the injections. I thought it was kind of crazy how far in the needle goes to give an IA, but the more I think of the anatomy of the mandible the more sense it made. One of the most important things I learned that day was if you want to make sure you're going to get numb you should have Sam give you your injection because I was numb for a good 3 hours. Next week is nitrous, which I'm not too excited for, but the week after that we get to numb half a mouth. Then we get to start numbing our patients. Wahoo!
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