Another Day of Probing...

Today was a much better day! I was pretty successful with my probing depths and was only off by 1mm with my instructor. Jen was super nice and was really helpful today. I feel a lot better about my instrumentation and I'm once again excited to be here in Hygiene School! I completed my first 3 tests over the weekend and did really well. My Dental Hygiene test was a little rough but my Anatomy and Radiology exams were awesome! I was so happy to have them done and be able to enjoy the weekend. Once again... Dental Hygiene School Rocks! I'm still loving it even though it is super challenging. But today proved that I can overcome the challenge and be successful!

BFI

Today we learned and talked about the Bleeding-free Index. In other words... when we probe, if we get bleeding in a certain area from the pocket, we count it as one. Then there's a big math equation and we count how many spots were bleeding and how many teeth are present in the mouth and that makes up the BFI. The higher the number the better. Everyone wants to be 100% bleeding free, right?! It was fun to do today! I'm still uneasy with probing but I know it will continue to get better!

Week 5...

Today was the Second most frustrating day in clinic. On Monday, we started using our explorer on each other. It was the hardest thing ever! I just couldn't do it right. Jen was such a good sport through it all! I just couldn't see as well as I would have liked or thought so I think that made it a lot harder. Today we used our probes and probed each other. Once again... I wasn't very good and I got super frustrated. I had to stop for a few seconds... take a few breaths... and fight back the tears. It was awful. I will definitely be taking my typodont home for the weekend and practising. These are two very important skills we do everyday in our work and I'm horrible at them. I have lost a lot of confidence in myself but hopefully with a little practise I'll get better. I also completed my first test. It was in Head, Neck, and Dental Anatomy... I did ok for the first but could have done better. It was a nice first exam and I am happy with my score. I have two other exams before the end of the week. I think I'm just feeling a nit overwhelmed and stressed. I'm still loving school and feel so blessed to be here. This week was just a rough one!

Explorer and HHx Screening

Today was pretty intense. We were taught how to use our explorer. The one's we use here are a lot different from the one's I'm used to at my dad's office. His are just a sickle explorer but the one's in school are called pig tails. They look exactly like their names. I feel super uncomfortable with my explorer. I feel as though I can't see the difference between the two ends. I got really frustrated with myself because this was really difficult for me to grasp. The instructors keep saying that it will be get with more time and practise. I sure hope they are right! I passed off my HHx screening PE today which was wonderful to complete! It was a little tricky but not bad. It was a heck of a lot better than practising with the explorer.

Instrument Grasp

Today we were able to practise how to grasp our instruments. We talked about the difference and the significance of Adaption, Angulation, and Activation of our instruments. I never realized how precise everything has to be with the tip or toe of an instrument. This is a lesson and concept I will remember forever. It is so important that the tip of the instrument is in the right place and is well adapted to the tooth. I was able to pass off my Patient/Operator PE today which was really fun. My posture is really bad so far but hopefully that will get better with time!

Extra Oral Exam!

Today was a great day!! We learned how to perform Extra Oral Exams... or in other words, really good head massages! We were taught were the different lymph nodes are found and what to expect when we feel healthy nodes or infected nodes. It was great to practise on each other and to be practised on! I really liked this lesson! We also talked about and practised our indirect vision. This is really hard for me because the direction of my hand is different from the direction it's going in the mirror. Hopefully this will come more naturally!! All in all today was Great!

Blood Pressure Clinic! (week 3)

Today we learned how to take BP, respiratory rate, and pulse. It was Awesome!! I learned how about 4 years ago so it took some time to remember how to do it. Jessica was my first patient and it took me forever to find her BP. But eventually we got it and she IS alive! Believe it or not, I have a fairly low BP. Hopefully the reason is from my 2 mile walk early this morning with my mom!! I also passed off another PE. I'm about 1.5 weeks ahead of schedule with those crazy buggers! Clinic was lots of fun today. I now am getting ready for Radiology lab and then the rest of the evening is going to be crazy!! Casey and I are going to the open house for Mrs. Campbell, then we are headed downtown to Paint the Town Purple for homecoming week! Casey just makes me smile and I love her! We are going to Party tonight!! :)

2nd Week Continued...

I now have successfully finished my second week in the program. It was lots of fun but really busy. I really enjoyed all of my classes and felt well prepared for each one. Friday afternoon we had a SADHA meeting with the Jr. and Sr. class of girls. It was tons of fun. I got meet more of the Sr.'s and really enjoyed hearing about their experiences. I also found out that I'm the Promote Your Professions co-chair for the committee. I really excited about it. It will be lots of fun to be more involved and let the community and other people know we are up there and can clean their teeth. This semester/year is going to be lots of fun. I love being a Dental Hygiene student!!

2nd Week!!

Today was an all around Great day! I didn't have class this morning but I did have clinic in the early afternoon. I came up to school however at 8 and studied until clinic. It was a much needed study time. I was able to get all of my reading done and start on a few modules ahead of time. It was Wonderful! Clinic today went very well. We practised health histories which were a little overwhelming. I had no idea that we would have to look up every drug in our DDR and record the dosage, reason for taking the drug, all of the oral side effects... ect. It was insane but I really enjoyed the practise. I passed off 2 more PE's which was lots of fun! My pod of girls are Awesome! I am having a great experience thus far in the program.