2/24/10

Today went really well! I had my class 2 patient come in, and I already had his OD done so I just got to do his cleaning. I also passed off explorer, anterior instrument, and blood glucose PE. He had calculus on his lower linguals. He had quite a few restoration so there was not a ton of calculus on the molars. I did learn that I need to twist my instrument a little more between my thumb and index finger so that I'm always leading with the tip. My goal is to increase my speed on OD. That is what really slow me down. Also, I would like to be more comfortable with indirect vision of the lower linguals. I dont trust myself so I always end up compromising my posture to see those. I don't want to make that a habit so I need to start using indirect vision now.

2/22/10

Today was another stressful clinic day! I met my goal and finished my 1b patient (that has not been in for 2 years.) There was some calculus buildup, but he was still a 1b. It was so fun watching the calculus come off of the anterior linguals. I felt like I was hurting him every once in awhile though. I need to make sure that I have a good fulcrum. Also, I need to make sure that I'm keeping a 70-80 degree angle to avoid hurting the gums. My goal that I decided to do next time was to be more organized in my scaling. I kinda just go everywhere and then hope I get it all. I need to focus on the anteriors when I'm doing them and finish those before I start on the next teeth. That way I can explore and remember which teeth are clean and which ones still need it. My goal for Wednesday is to get some PE's done. I have my dad coming in again and I definitly need to pass off some PE's.

2/17/10

Today was a very layed back day. We did not have any patients today. We just learned how to clean dentures, take blood glucose, and to use the diagnodent. It brought me back to first semester and, now that I look back it was so easy compared to seeing patients! ha ha I have use the diagnodent and clean dentures before at the office I work at. It was fun to learn how to take blood glucose. They have really nice kits at Weber State that makes it really easy for us. My goal this week is to get more organized with how I'm going to pass of PE's and set goals when I want them done. I would like to finish my next patient in one day on Monday. We will see next time:)

2/10/10

I had my class 2 patient again today. I really felt good about getting the LL done because one of the TA's was with me last time while I worked on the LR. She really helped me feel the calculus and made sure that I got it all off. Turns out that I missed a few spots on the LL also. I think I really need to use my explorer like crazy. I kept thinking it was smooth, but the instructor would get in there and go even more subgingivally then I thought possible and find some. I need to make sure I'm using my probe depths while I scale so I know how deep the pockets are. I didn't accomplish my goal for PE's today. I wanted to get my second anterior and univeral PE done. I only finished the ultrasonic PE. When using the universal and anterior instruments I need to adapt alot more Make sure that the terminal shank is not exactly parallel to the tooth because then it will cut the gums. I need to focus on keeping it 70-80 degree angle. I think i learned alot today and hope that today will help me with my next patients and finding calculus. My goal is to keep giving 100% I also think its a good idea on 1b patients to just use the instruments on atleast half and not the ultrasonic so that I know if I can really do it with just the scaling instruments. I find when I'm running out of time I just want to use the ultrasonic and hope that it gets it all. I think I learned alot from today and think overall I have improved with detecting calculus. We will see next time:)

2/8/10

Today went pretty good in that I got all of the calculus off, but I only got 1 quad done on my 1 B patient. I was hoping to finish her, because she didn't need x-rays. She had to leave over an hour earlier then I expected. Oh well I can get in my sharpening PE for the day. I'm just really stressed about the requirements and hope that I can get them all done. Both radiology and my patient requirements. I need to work a little faster in order to get them all done. I did notice that this patient had overall pretty health pocket depths but her gums were inflamed. She was not a flosser. There was actually quite a bit of blood and I kept thinking I was getting her gums, but it is just one of those things that come when you don't floss properly. She also might have been pregnant. Bleeding of the gums accompanies pregnancy! My goal is to really plan ahead and make sure I can get all of my requirements done.

2/1/10

Today went pretty smoothly. My goal was to get the Sealant and Selective Polishing PE done. It was hard because the instructors were always so busy. So i just passed off a sealant and will wait till next time to pass of selective polishing. I had my sister come in today and she was very easy. Did not take me very long to clean. I can't wait to get a patient with calculus so I can actually feel it with my explorer. I used the air on her lower linguals and found one little tiny spot of calculus. It is so exciting to see and then take it off. The things we get excited about:) My goal is to keep my tray a little more clean and organized so that I know where everything is and don't look like such a slob. I need to work on fulcruming and using a hand, arm and wrist motion to get the calculus off. Overall, today was great!