PE'S are cruisin' and so is my speed.

I reached my goal today. 3 more PE's passed off today.  My posture was great according to Prof. Costley (she said she didn't notice anything wrong when I asked). I didn't miss one area with the lingual bar today, and I am mastering the ultrasonic, along with feeling much better about my position of my body and the patient and my instrument while scaling. Overall today was a good day. It's been a long day, and I am still recooperating from the horror of last weeks tests-a-thon.  Now off to do some of those stretches.

First complete patient!

YAY! I was able to complete my patient today from start to finish with all 4 quads done. Such a good feeling. And I passed off two PE's today. Really such a great day! next week I just want to keep my pace going and pass off more PE's.  I only missed a few spots of calculus today, which was another boost to my self esteem. To know that I really am improving from the start of the semester. Instructor Hafen showed me some modified chair postions today for the posterior teeth, and let me tell you...it rocked.  So nice.  I spent majority of my time bouncing between 12 and 8 o'clock. See you Monday.

My first 1A patient!

Today I originally had scheduled a pt my peer pal referred to me, that I have never met before.  I was able to contact her, and I even mailed her a hhx so she could bring it with her today to speed up the process.  When I was walking her back she told me she didn't bring any money today, and there was no way she could pay.  There was no way I was going to pay for her, so I just had to reschedule her appt to a later date in February.  Such a bummer, because there I sat patient-less for a few minutes.  Luckily I have a back up with my dental hygienist cousin and her little girl, so she brought her daughter right in. YAY!  My pt was 3 years old, and so so cute. Her favorite part of the entire appt was her pink cinderella toothbrush and the water with the "thirsty" straw.  I think I gave her water 35 times. ha ha.  I didn't think that 1A's would be that difficult, and it wasn't.  The only thing was that you really do have to get those linguals. Lots of biofilm hides out there.  So... if your pateint allows, don't forget to get the Linguals really well! I passed off one PE today.  I need to get cracking on those more.  I feel like I am behind, and I need to catch up.  Hopefully Monday I will pass off 2 more. My goal Wednesday is to pass of 2 PE's and Scale all 4 quads on my patient.  Wish me luck!

1-19-11

first of all happy birthday to my sister...She is 20. Yay for her :)  Clinic today was the norm. I worked on my 14 yr old cousin who is an aspiring hygienist, so it was fun to hang with her and show her the ropes today.  She is quite the talker!  I was able to take some xrays today, and meet more requirements, I guess I need to move away from phosphor plates, because I have met those requirements.  I got one quad done today, which I thought I would get a lot more.  Dang, I so wish I was faster and better.  I need to work on that next week, even though I  have no idea who my patient it...SCARY. Note to self: I need to call her this week. I wish I didn't miss calculus too ha ha...those lower anteriors get me EVERY TIME!  Have a good week...Let the tests begin!

1-12-11

Today was pretty good. My patient refused xrays, so I was unable to reach that goal.  But I was able to scale 2 quads!  Which is better, and I can see that I am improving.  My technique still needs so much work, and I am working every clinic day to improve that.  That Will be my goal for next week. I am contemplating buying loupes. I think it will be a great investment in the long run.  Only if it didn't cost an arm and a leg! 

First Wednesday pt clinic

Today was a pretty great day.  I really enjoy having Instructor Vinning as my pod instructor.  He is very knowledgeable, and really helps you understand what you need.  My goal today from last week was to get at least one quad scaled.  Which I surpassed happily with 2 quads scaled and 4 BWX taken perfectly! No retakes.  Happy day :)  I still have issues with charting and forgetting some things, and learning what each instructor expects out of their chart they are grading.  I guess it is better to fail on the said of information overload.  Only if it didn't take 2 years to chart.  Here's hoping to faster charting capabilities in the future!! I hope this momentum keeps going, and that I keep finding patients, and that I start to find higher classifications soon :) Peace out friends.

First Patient Day Spring 2011

So today was a little rough, but still went really well.  I had a goal with my patient to at least get one quad scaled, but I didn't quite get to it. Which is ok, because I took a FMX, so that meets a lot of requirements that way.  I am just glad I was able to reschedule my patient so I can get them back in and cleaned.  It was a little stressful at the beginning, because he was late! and then the scanx machine got backed up, and that was no good because That is what I was using for my xrays, so I didn't get back to start taking xrays until about 30-45 minutes later than what I had initially scheduled in the xray room.  I am happy I survived the day, and I will be glad when taleval is understood, and I can get past that learning curve.  I have scheduled the entire month of January with patients so I am extremely happy about that! Lets just hope that Monday goes a little better!

First day of spring semester!

I can't believe I am back here again....time flew over Christmas!!!  I think I was in denial the last week of the break, willing my brain not to think about the inevitable of a higher stress level...but that was forced out of my mind when the flooding of emails came sliding in....so here I am....and I am excited to get another semester under my belt...and then I will be one step closer to getting married! wahoo!  Today in clinic was tal eval: which is going to be quite the learning curve...graceys, which had me exhausted by the end of it...and ultrasonics, which I think I will love once I know how to use it correctly, and not feel like a retard...it is coming though, that is good.  It is SO good to see everyone again! So here is to another semester...GOOD LUCK!