Thank Goodness for TA's

TOday I did a cleaning appointment for a 1B. I think this time I learned a lot about sickle scalers. Candace helped me learn to be comfortable with them. I thought they had a super sharp cutting edge on the back, but it's not super sharp... I am allowed to touch tissue with it... :) THen Stephanie helped me detect calculus and tooth surface. THey are so nice. I felt really un organized etc...(that's my goal from last time out the window!)j/k it will just be my goal for next time too. Man I just didn't feel that great about today, but I sure am glad for the nice TA's to tell me it's okay. I wish I could have a chair side helper at all times! can we get someone one that??? atleast I finished my pt. That's 8 quads down!!!

Wednesday 24!

Today I had a patient from the track team. I think things went very well I probed fast and well I finised at 3:00 ahead of schedule. I think the xrays went well I had one retake. I had to use a smaller film for her pre-molar bitewing. That worked much better. I still don't have the paper work back though from Mc Conaughey and she's coming in in two days. My goal for next time is to give good OHI and to do a quick job cleaning.

First Cleaning!

Today I did my first cleaning since last semester. I had to probe get an OD check and then do the cleaning. I did the full mouth, polish and flouride. I was proud of myself. I thought it went very well. I did well handling my instruments. I still have room to improve for sure. I had a hard time sitting up correctly though. My goal for next time is to do a good job, be quick and thorough. I want to work on being organized and having a pattern so I am thorough doing the cleaning. I want to pass off a couple PE's! Bye!

Jan 22

Today my patient was about an hour late. So I was not able to finish what I had hoped to or practice quick probing. But I did get through everything including xrays. So if you were to give that hour to probing that she was late then I would have finished in time. My patient was walked out by ten thirty five. It went well I thought. Next time my goal is to probe more quickly but still be accurate. I will be cleaning her teeth and doing flouride. Maybe I will pass off my PE on her. I thought it went well.I found it helpful to do OHI while the xrays were processing. That's that!!

CA day

Today I was a clinical assistant with Gina. I think it went pretty well. It doesn't seem too confusing. I was a little worried about learning to work the sterilizing equipment but it was not bad at all. I will be able to do it. My goal for next time is to be very prepared for Jaimie and go fast and get to scaling!! I really hope I can.!! I will!

First PT of Spring 2007!

Today I had my friend from the track team as my patient today. I was very prepared for him to come because I knew I had a lot to do. I had to take a pano and four bitewings. The health history went pretty well. Except for the fact that the instructor said to write about his blood pressure as pre-hypertensive. I'll have to check in the manual for that cuz i'm still not sure what to do. THe extra and intra went well I might want to look over that again. I though the radiographs went really well. I did not have to retake any, but I still would benefit from taking the x-ray a little more forward. I need to be looking at the person's teeth with the radiographs in mind while I am doing the preliminary stuff. I think that would help. I did pretty good probing, but I'm still really slow. Practice will make me better, I just wish I could practice more. I think I just need to relax. I really appreciate the help I get form the instructors and other students though. ESp laurie, she's way fast and good. She helps me when she's done cuz she's so nice! Well I think this blog is long enough!! My goal for next time is to be the best dang CA you've ever seen!

1st day back from x-mas!

Today we practiced using our gracey's. I liked it. They are very handy instruments. But I have a difficult time telling which cutting edge to use. Seems so simple but I get confused. I am getting ready for my patient this week. I feel prepared. He wants a full mouth x-ray only, but he is going to stay so that I can practice everything else on him. My goal for next time is to move fluidly from one step to another. I'm still a little rusty using the computer system. I will practice that also. Good to be back. Adios!