Complacent

I Had a couple of class V patients today and I feel like I'm ready for that patient with ridiculous calculus and deep pockets. I missed a spot today, but I feel it was because I didn't feel challenged. I need to have that crazy hard patient, so I can stretch myself skill wise. You could argue that I take a little long, but you will never have such great cleaning.

Mark, out.

Mockboard Experience

Today we had our first mockboard experience. I was going into the day without a qualifying patient. It all rested on a patient that I had been given the night before. I had 15mins. before it started to screen my patient. Luck of the Hygiene gods, the patient qualified. I had 30 mins to get the patient into the x-ray room and take bitewings and some PA's.
Well, I got done the x-rays and checked-in the patient. I finished the patient with 20 mins to spare. For a crazy start to the exam I was impressed with myself. I only missed 2 spots, and one I shouldn't have missed. The other was understandable. Anyway, I felt like I handled it well.

A Little Frustrated

Today at the VA Clinic I only had one patient, since the other "no showed", but it's starting to frustrate me that I take so long to finish a patient. I have struggled with this and it doesn't seem to be getting better. I need to cut my time in half and I feel like its never going to happen. I don't miss calculus that often, but when my scale time is over an hour, it's unacceptable. Sometimes I feel like I'm not cut out for this, but then I remember that I'm not a quitter. I just need to put more trust in my work and not scale every mm on every tooth, especially when I've used the ultrasonic before. I just feel like I'm letting down my patient and my professors when I miss something. I just need to find a balance.

Mark, out.

Recognizing The Unfamiliar

 So after seeing my perio compromised patient on Tuesday, I wasn't so overwhelmed today. I had never seen a patient with meth mouth that has progressed to such a level. It was surprising to me that when I looked in the mouth I knew exactly where to start and how to chart such a patient. It was kind of a light bulb moment for me. I felt like I actually knew what I was doing, and maybe one of these days, I will feel like a real hygienist.

Mark, out.

My First VA Experience

 I started my Veteran Affairs dental clinic rotations today and it was exciting. I really like the fact that I don't have so much pressure on scheduling patients. I also like that it feels more like the real world experience. Hopefully I can turn up my probing and scaling time to increase patient output. I honestly feel I can improve my scaling time by pushing myself and not have to worry so much about medical/dental histories.

Mark, out.

First Day Back In Clinic

It has been a long summer and it was good to get back into things, but the stress of patient management and the demand of organization can be a bit overwhelming. I wasn't able to get a patient into the chair for the morning, but I atleast I was able to find a patient to come in for the afternoon. I was rusty, I didn't even know where to start, so I took my time to chart, do x-rays, and discuss OHI. I never made it to scaling, but I don't have to do all the busy work the next visit.

Mark, out.

A Day To Remember

I headed into this last clinic with great optimism and excitement that I may finish all my requirements. I had 12 quads, 11PAs, one sealant, and one PE. I had one patient with 4 quads, and another with 1. I almost finished all five in one sitting. It was not my scaling time that held me back from finishing them, it was my probing and juggling two patients at one time. I ended up finishing 4 quads in the morning, but that left me with 8 more to go. After lunch I had permission to work on a couple of the hygienists because we thought their patients were not coming, but they ended up being a half hour late. So I ended up taking a 1b patient and I finished with some time to spare. My scale time continued to improve and I feel like I am where I should be for time per patient. But I still ended short.

I would like to say that this day to remember was one to be of capping off a great semester, but it was not. I will always remember this day as a reminder to finish my difficult requirements as early in the semester as possible. I was short 11 PA's, 4 quads, one sealant, and one PE. Time to step it up and become a scaling machine.

Mark, out.

Nothings Seems To Intimedate Anymore

Today I took on a challenge that was beyond any difficult dental hygiene patient. with 7mm-9mm pockets, furcations, tenacious subgingival calculus, and gingiva that would bleed if you were to breath on it. what appeared as an impossible task, was an experience that put difficult into perspective. I thought I had experienced a difficult patient with tenacious calculus, but not compared to the volume this patient had. I had my 13/14 gracy going and it was literally bending like it was going to snap, and it still could not get some of the calculus. After that experience, I don't think I will complain again about a class 2 or class 3 patient. All I know is that I am extremely grateful for the experience.

After 1 quad of that I finished two quads of a class 3 that was pretty easy, but my scale time improved immensely. Thanks Mechel and Sarah!

Mark, out.

A Handful of Glucose Ought to Do!

I was not planning on having a patient today, especially one with diabetes, but I was handed a surprise. A lady came in, she that supposedly had an appointment, and was insistent on getting in to get her teeth cleaned. I was planning on sharpening my instruments and picking up a few PA's, but I ended up treating a patient.
The story starts here though, because she was hypoglycemic when she arrived and was perspiring. She ate some fig newtons to help increase her blood glucose, but after 25 min. her glucose increased a few points. She was still to low to treat, so after discussing with instructor Hafen, she found some glucose tablets. After a handful of glucose tablets and 10 min. later, walla! This was a great experience for me, because it allowed me to have the experience of a diabetic patient and the problems that come with it.

Mark, out.

Time and Speed... Finding a Balance

Today I worked on trying to speed up my scaling time. The perfectionist that I am is killing my scale time. I scaled four quads in an hour and fifteen minutes and was quite proud of myself, but my quality went down a little. I am actually not disappointed in myself because for what I did miss, it was really not that bad. Just a few little adjustments and I think I will be where I need to be going into second year. All I need to do is speed up my OD time.Another battle for another day.

I did get to do 7 sealants today, too bad I did not get paid on commission.

Mark, out.

Packing In a Busy Schedule

So, today I needed to fit in a sealant to fulfill my requirements, and I have a patient that needs to get finished before leaving town. I booked in a child for sealants for the first hour, and then a patient that still needed two more quads. I went over time with the sealants due to an MIA dentist that was having lunch and no one knew where he had gone. It did give me some time to start a partial cleaning PE, but after that the dentist had returned and I could start treatment on my patient.


The sealant went well and there where no real complications, but the more I do, the better I will be.


when I started my second patient, I was running behind on time. I had to finish up three quads and pass off a couple of PEs. I really turned on the jets and finished him up in about an hour and fifteen minutes. I really had a boost of confidence today by finishing what I did. I just hope this momentum can keep going in the right direction.


Mark, out.

A Humbling Experience

I had a patient today that was a class 2 and I had all four quads to finish. Now I really tried to pick up my scale time, because it is not where it should be. I really pushed today to get a difficult patient done, so I did my best not to be a perfectionist. In doing so, I may have been a little too permissive to myself.  Those anteriors can be a little tricky when there is crowding going on.

Anyway, it worked out still, because I did all four quads and that averaged three misses per quad. That is a pass on a class 2.

Mark, out.

Digital Sensors

Ok, I am going to rant about why schick sensors suck. We should just try to stick a skinny wooden block with sharp corners in the patient's mouth and ask them to close down. The dang thing is so cumbersome in the mouth and it does not get the bone levels very well. I just want to cut the corners off of that thing. It would make life a lot easier. Maybe its just me!

Mark out.

What Am I Doing Wrong?

Today was a rough day for me. I had a simple 1b patient for a return appointment and all I finished in two hours and thirty minutes was one quad. I really struggled today. I feel like I may not be cut out for this, but my competitive edge tells my to suck it up and stop acting like a failure. It really hit me today that I need to develop these skills and do it quickly. I know I can do it, I just need to focus on the positive and figure out why it is taking me so long.

Mark, out.

A Pat On The Back

I feel like I made some good progress today in my time. I did xrays, OD, and scaled one quad of a class 2. That is quite an accomplishment at this point in the game. I ought to give myself a pat on the back. I need to keep this progression up, so I can finish a patient in one appointment.

Mark, out.

My First Full Mouth

I had friend come in today to get a full mouth set of xrays and an OD. out of  18 films, I had to retake 4, which I would say is a pretty good outcome. I never used the ora-ring once, and the ones that needed retakes were my bite-wings. I guess I should be a little ashamed since I take those all the time. One thing I could improve on is time on my OD.


Mark, out.

My First Pano

This is not my first pano ever performed, but it is on my first real patient. I almost blew it though. I was fine loading, mounting, and taking the pano, but I for some reason thought I could just open it up. I was lucky that no light got in when I peeled the velcro. It turned out perfect and I was able to get one of my two required panos done. Thanks Midtown!

Mark, out.

The Dream Patient

Having a patient that  is cooperative, understanding, and patient is the dream patient. I am still developing my skills, and so my adaptation and angulation is still needs improving. Nonetheless, my patient just followed instruction, and cooperated whenever I asked to move their head and jaw. I hope a get more of these, it makes my life a lot better.


Mark, out.

In A Panic

Today was my first cancellation or so called "no show". I was extremely frustrated, nervous, and in a panic. I was running around the health science building looking for anyone that could fill in for the clinic session, but it was all in vain. I came back to the clinic to go to the resource list and the second person I called could come in 15 mins. I was able to get radiographs and the OD done by the end of clinic. I was able to handle the situation and come out successful.

Mark, out.

Stud Lip rings

My patient today had a lip ring and, when capturing xrays, it is protocol to take them out due to possible scatter radiation and obstruction in the film Well, when I asked the patient to remove it, the patient warned me that it may not be possible. I asked if I could give it a try, but I was not successful. we were able to take out the tongue stud, but that was it. Anyway, the patient was a very cooperative and using scan-x plates are a dream.

I only made it through the OD and xrays today, but in time I hopefully can complete a full treatment in one appointment.

Mark, out.

The Doubter

My patient today came in with her husband today, and while I was planning on taking x-rays, I hear a voice come from the operatory across from mine saying, " Babe, we're not getting x-rays." My heart just sunk to the floor, but I decided to explain why x-rays are essential to our care and they are only $2.00 per film. I minute later, I hear that same voice come over again saying, "Babe, I didn't realize how cheap they were, so get them."

People are so interesting because once you find out their doubt, you can normally resolve. I don't want people to think we try to push a sale on someone, but if its necessary to the right care, I will do everything in my power to get it. I didn't get to scale any teeth today, but that just leaves me a whole mouth to clean the next time she is in.


Mark, out.

First Day Back...

First day back in clinic was all but cool and collected. You don't realize how much you forget in a month, until you are required to remember it all. Luckily my first patient was my brave daughter Diana. She was a real trooper for being patient in the chair and in the x-ray room. I was really glad that I had her as my first patient, because it allowed me to not be so frazzled and overwhelmed.

What made my day in the end, was the fact that I finished her in one appointment. I must say healthy patients really do cut down the time it takes to get all the patient records finished. I wish all patients were healthy since my writing speed isn't the best.

Mark, out.

The Coveted Instrument

Today we learned how to use our ultrasonics, which is the most coveted instrument known to dental hygiene. We only used it on typodonts today, but patient care is soon to follow. Its hard to believe that only a few months ago I had just started to learn this stuff and now its game on with the real patients from here on out. I just hope I can become more efficient and increase my productivity.

Mark, out.