I can't wait till Friday!

Last day of class for the semster! Yeah!!!! It is crazy to think in just four months I will be taking my boards. The stress is kicking in!!!

Last Day at the VA this semster!

Ahhhh! Relief! A break from waking up at 5:30 in the morning to come down to the Veterans Hospital! The morning and I don't get along! So it has been hard. I am trying to hold my eyes open right now. It is not working so well! Both my patients today were great! So it was a nice last day! We also celebrated by all of us girls going out to lunch! I love the girl luncheons!! One more semester and I am free!

Thanksgiving break!

NO SCHOOL! How nice!!! I am not looking forward to all the test for next week, but now is the time to relax!

Calculus really doesn't get you in the mood for thanksgiving dinner!

The day before thanksgiving I had to go down to the VA hospital and clean teeth! I saw three patients. One more memorable than the others. The patient was a class IV patient that was just there to have his upper left quad. cleaned. As a was cleaning that quad. I noticed that all of his lower anteriors were completely encased in calculus. He had just had them clean less than a month prior. It was shocking!!! I tried to tidy them up as best I could in the time I had, but he really needed another full mouth debridement. That made me lose my appetite just a little! How did it get so bad so fast!

12mm is a long way down!

On Tuesday my patient was part class V, part class III! He had a 12 mm pocket. It was my first experience with a 12mm pocket!! That thing was so deep and it was hard to maneuver around in it! I had to break out my mini graceys for the first time. They really did the trick. I could not have cleaned that pocket without them!

Swine Flu

So I missed clinic last week because my husband was in the hospital with pneumonia and and the H1N1 viruses that had become septic in his blood stream. It was a very rough week for me. It is just crazy how quickly it progressed. On Friday he was as healthy as a horse and on Sunday I was sitting in a hospital room and the doctors were telling me my husband might not make it. He recovered though and is now home from the hospital. Now my only challenge is getting him to take it easy. I am just glad that is over. Now on with the next mountain I am going to climb.

Done with my requirements for the semester!!!

I just finished all my requirements for the semester. I just need extra quads of a three or a four that will count for next semester. Time is flying. Before I know it I will be graduated and working, and on to the next step in my life making babies. At least I hope I will be graduated, as long as I can get past those dreaded board examinations. All four of them. It is so annoying; we have more board exams than a dentist. ARRRRG! Oh well it will be over before I know it, and I will never have to think about it again. People always say don't wish it over, but I wish this over!!!!!

First Day with my loopes!!!

I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove my loopes. They are so nice, and they help me see so much better. Not to mention they are sexy. Yeah!!!!!! I had the perfect patient to use them on at first, she was a class II/ class III. It really helped. I did not miss any spots. I also gave injections for the first time today. I felt good about them, except I need to make sure I have all the necessary items before I get started. In the afternoon my patient did not show up, but my awesome hubby came to the rescue. He is amazing. I am thankful for him everyday.

Last week 3 P.E.'s

So last week I forgot to write on this here blog, but this is how it went. We had a lab all morning and we learned blood glucose, files, saliva testing, medicaments, and etc. I was the victim of the blood glucose test and my blood glucose was 68 mg/dl. which is low so I guess I am a little hypo. I hope that I don't become diabetic like the rest of my family. In the afternoon I saw two little girls who were so cute, but they had a little anxiety about getting a cleaning. Lets just say that x-rays were a challenge, but I was a little behind on P.E.'s so I got 3 done. Now, I feel a little better. So that was it for last week.

One mock board down two to go!!!

Today was mock boards, and I barely got any sleep last night because I was worried about doing well. I arrived at clinic early and started to feel a little better. I had everything ready and I just had to wait for my patient, but where was he. He is always on time and so dependable. By 8:10 a.m. I started to worry. If our patients were not checked in with the examiner we were docked scale time. I decided to call him. He answered and said he was on his way. I asked him how long it would be. He said he would be there in about ten minutes. I looked at the clock and thought are you kidding me, that means I have five minutes to get his health history signed, take his blood pressure, get all the other paperwork signed, and get back up to the front desk. Ahhhh!!! Then I calmed down and got everything organized so that I could do it all as quickly as possible. Ten minutes later he was still not there. Fifteen minutes later still no Francisco. Just as the tears started to well up in my eyes Kelcie was there to calm me. Thank goodness for her or I would have been a mess. He finally arrived at 8:35 a.m. He look as stressed as I was. He said he felt really bad and that his alarm did not go off and then there was traffic. I got him up to the front desk in a flash, but I still got like twenty-five minutes deducted from my scale time. He qualified, so I brought him back and started scaling. The time flew and before I new it time was up. I brought him up front, and then waited for the examiners to check. Which they forgot about him for some time, but they finally brought him backed and checked him. I missed one spot of calculus and my probings were all on. I did miss points because I guess I imagined some recession that was not there, but all and all I did great. I passed and that is really all that matters. I just hope I do that good on the real board exam.

The Dental Hygiene Students worse nightmare a reality!

Tuesdays Clinic started off great I finished my exam patient and did not have any errors. I had a great lunch, well if you consider drinking my bowl of soup because we were out of spoons a great lunch. Then my afternoon patient arrived. I sat him in my chair and started to look at his health history. There was not anything very concerning until I ask if he was taking any other medications not listed. Then he pulled out a full page of typed up medications. Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! My poor Pt. had to wait forever while I looked up all the side effects of every medication and listed each one along with the reference page. I swear it took about an hour. I guess that's what I get for not getting the health history filled out prior to the appointment. I never thought I would get him done, but then as it turns out he had no calculus, and was surprisingly easy. I got him all done x-rays and all. With not errors or x-ray retakes. So it all worked out. He was so awesome and so patient. Even though he was in a great deal of pain because of his recent back surgery. With all the trials some people go through it is amazing how kind and light-hearted they can be. He was a real inspiration to me, to appreciate all that I have, and to not sweat the small stuff. It is amazing what we take for granted every day.

Count your blessings

So my blessings came last week in the form of a class III patient!!! I have not gotten any class three's so far so I was really starting to worry. I need two class III exams for the semester and had no prospects. That was until Wednesday at the VA. I was joking with my group on the way down that I had to have a class III that day, and as luck would have it my first patient was a class III. Not only that, but he did not need to be numb. So I called him as an exam and got all four quads. in one appointment!!!! It was the greatest day ever. I missed a couple spots, but oh well. Now just to find another.

Mock Board Patient

I am all set for my mock boards!!! We got all the x-rays we needed today. My patient was so awesome he did not mind at all that he was going to have to come back again for the mock boards. We had alot to talk about because he likes to race like my hubby. He told me all about his Camaro he races. Both of my patients today were great. They were both so sweet and cooperative. My next patient was a cute little lady that assists with special eduacation kids. She is just so cute I want to squeeze her. Thanks to them I did not miss any spots. Well I take that back, I missed one on my first patient back on the distal of his third molar but I felt pretty good about that. I also had no retakes on my x-rays so I am feeling pretty good. All and all it was a great day!

Mock

Back for more!!!

After my class four patient at the VA last week, I was ready to throw in the towel. Only after scaling for two hours on one quad and barely making a dent I thought maybe hygiene was not my calling, although my instructor told me that even a seasoned hygienist would have a hard time with this patient. I came back today with some hessitation and it went well. I missed a few spots on my first patient because of the amount of blood I could not see the calculus. Instructor Snow gave me a few tips and I did not miss any spots on my second patient, thanks to her. I also had no retakes on my x-rays. Yeah!!!! So I guess I won't quit quite yet.

I'm Back!!

So today was the first day back to clinic after the long summer. It went pretty good, although I would rather be in lake powell or somewhere still. My first patient was a good mock board patient, YEAH!!!! That is one less thing that I have to worry about. I only finished one quad on him because I got confused about the time and thought I had less time than I actually had, but oh well I will finish him next time. My second patient was my hubbies friend and I got him all done. He was awesome. So patient! Thanks Zeb! All and all it was a good day just getting back into the swing of things.

Last blog for the first year of Dental Hygiene

Yeah!!!!! The first year is coming to a close. It was a rough year but we all made it through somehow. Not without a few tears and a few sleepless nights worrying about if our patients were going to show. So girls enjoy your summer, because who knows what we have in store for us next year.

My class III done

I just finished the last two quads. of one of my class III. It feels so good to be done with them. I am done with all the requirements now except for a couple x rays and one PE. The stress is starting to lift despite the fact I have two tests this week. I don't know if I will get the full 65 quads. we are supposed to have but oh well at least I can go on to next year. Three more clinic sessions. Yeah!!!

Final 1B exam

I was cutting it pretty close. Our final 1B Exam had to be done today and I thought I would have it done a couple weeks ago, but then my patient canceled. So, I was stressed to have to do it on the last day, but it all worked out and I think I did ok. I guess we will see when I get my paperwork back tomorrow. Now the only thing I have left is two Quads. of a class three and a couple of x-rays to take. Only four more clinic sessions left. Yeah!!!!!

Class 3 cleaning

I thought I new what I was doing and felt pretty good about scaling, until I saw my class three today. I missed so many spots, I wonder if I got anything the first time around. The calculus was so tenacious and it was everywhere. I really hope I get better at class threes. They are a whole different kind of animal. So my no error streak is over. Oh well. At least it was not an exam.

Four in a row

I don't want to jinks it, so knock on wood, but today I had no errors on my patient. Thats four in a row. Maybe I am actually starting to figure out this whole scaling thing. My patient was my dad again and I did three quads. He is a hard class two. So I was excited about not missing anything on him cause I know there was actually deposits there. He was such a good patient. The ultrasonic was getting water all over him and he did not even complain. He even let me pass of the air powder polisher PE on him and that is the worst. I would compare it to being sand blasted in the mouth. Thanks dad you are such good sport.

Record time

Wednesday, I cleaned one quad of a class five and four quads of a 1A. K So It might not be a record for any one else, but thats the best I have done so far so it was good. It is going to be crazy when we get into practice and have to clean like fourty quads a day. My back is already SCREAMING. It was rough though my second patient was a little squirmy and he wanted me to show him every "sugar bug" I scraped off his teeth. Oh well, at least it kept him interested. Then I had to do sealants. That was a task I am suprised I had fingers left after all the biting going on. I had no errors though on either of my patients. Yeah!!!

Three times a charm

Today was looking like it was going to be a rough one. I called my patient on Saturday to confirm her appointment, and what did I find? A disconnected phone number. Will she be there? Will she not? It was hard to say. Well thank goodness I have the best husband ever. He again waited in the lobby just to see if he was needed, and he was. I got his last three quads. done really fast and pasted off my removable appliance PE with his invisline. Not to mention the fact that I had zero errors. Yeah!!! So far it was really turning around. THEN I got done just in time to OD a class three that Sarah had found. Double Yeah!!! She helped me so much and was so sweet to just give me her unit and everything. She even helped me chart probe depths and cleaned my unit. I owe her big. So now I have two quads. of a class three. Now I just have to find two more. Cross your fingers.

Daddy Dearest

So my dad came in today as my patient. It was fun we went to lunch after and a movie after. Lets be honest that was the best part. The cleaning part went alright. I think once I get faster at probing then it will be smooth sailing, but I am still not very comfortable with my probe depths. I swear one of the pockets was a five today, right up in the front, but Vining said it was just a four and what he says goes. So, I thought that my dad would for sure be a class three patient but he was just a two. We all know I need more of those. Who knows where I am going to find a three. They are a hot commodity right now in the hygiene world. I have been told that it will all work out, times like this I have a hard time believing it. Bring on more stress.

Another hard patient

So I had another patient that has not been to the dentist in like seven years. Which I feel great about helping these patients that have not been in forever, because their teeth will feel so much better once they are done. The thing that sucks is that I have to get my 65 quads. done, and instead of getting the patient all done in one day. It takes me a couple times. Where are all the easy 1B patients? Oh! I know, everyone else is seeing them. Oh well. I am learning alot. So, it is good I just hope I get all my quads.

My little 1A patient

So my cousins little girl Jaycee came in last wednesday. She is the cutest thing. She is only five and it was such a breeze to clean her teeth. I hope my kids are at least half as cute as that little bugger. I got her done so fast that I got a bunch of PE's passed off too. One thing that I wish we had are some toys for the kids to play with. Those coloring books only keep them entertained for three seconds, and they need something while they are waiting for their parents to come back.

Class 2

So I had a class two patient today and I have already seen him once. I had not scaled at all, but I was sure we could get it all scaled today. Oh no I only got two quads. scaled and it was rough. I went over the area with an explorer and everything and thought all the sufaces felt so smooth but I missed like nine spots. Ya nine. They were way interproximal more than I thought we could even go. I did so well on my last class two I thought I was doing great. Guess thats what I get for thinking. Oh well, it was a good learning experience.

My mom saves the day!

So, my patient got stranded in Wyoming (long story) and she called me at ten o' clock the night before and said she could not come to her appointment. I needed a patient proto. I called all the people I knew but no one could come in. Even my husband couldn't come because he conviently gets a cold sore everytime I need him. Finally, I called my mom and she took off work to come in. It was so awesome of her. I don't know what I would have done without her. Thanks mom. So the day turned out great. I even got three quads. done and two P.E.'s passed off. All and all it worked out. Now I just hope my patient shows up for the next appointment I scheduled her for.

What a day!

So to start off I arrive at clinic early so I could get everything done before my patient showed up. First thing I looked in my folder and what did I find but a blue slip. I did not know there was a place on the green sheet to write BFI. I always have just written it on my notes. Well there was and I got a blue slip because I did not put it there. Then I had everything ready by eight and my patient was not there. By 8:10 I started to worry, so I called him. He was still in bed, but he said no worries I will be there in just a minute. At 8:40 he finally arrived. If that was not enough, I took his blood pressure and it was way high. So I waited five minutes and tried again. Still it was really really high. I talked to the instructors and they said they would check it. They waited another few minutes and checked it and still it was skyrocketing. They told me I might not be able to work on him. AHHHHHH! After careful consideration they decided that I could call his doctor since he had recently been in and get verbal consent. His doctor gave me consent and after an hour and a half of shanananagans (or however you spell it) I was able to clean his teeth. It was so nerve racking I barely got an OD check. Then I forgot my instruments in the autoclave. I hope that because I had such a bad day that I am entitled a couple good ones. Probably not but that would be nice.

My second shower for the day!

So we are back from christmas break. It was not long enough. I am full of stress. I do not mind the test, it is the finding all of our own patients thing that is killing me. I hope it all works out. We used ultrasonics today for the first time. I sprayed myself in the face. Ya, I am that good. The water was going everywhere. I feel bad for our poor patients. They are going to feel like they are drowning. We also learned our graceys. I will be interesting to see them in action in someones mouth. Well here we go again for another semester. One down three to go.