Millions of instruments...

We got to go over all of our new instruments that have been hanging out in our drawers being bored since school started. It was really interesting and I am excited/nervous to start using them all. Probing finally made a little bit more sense and I'm not going home as frustrated with it as I did a week ago. I thought I was going to poke a hole in Karen's cheek passing off a simple PA cause I had a sudden burst of stage fright. That pretty much covers clinic. It was a lot more fun after I had a very very off day in radiology.

EXPORING

So I love exporers so much. Way way way better than probing. Also found out today that I am ultra slow at setting up my unit, secrets are not allowed in clinic, and I wish I was better with my mirror. Yeah it was a productive day. Can't wait to scale...

Holy probing!

Wow school feels like it is going in warp speed. Learn how to sit, then look in the mirror, then hold the probe and the mirror, and before you can practice all of it more than once BAMMM put it all together and if everything is not right then you have a screaming patient in your chair. Today that patient was Mollee, poor girl.

Extra onto Intra

We have graduated to intra oral exams,I found out I suck with looking in a mirror, and the modified pen grasp is a little more complicated than it sounds. As I concentrate on putting my pinkie right next to my fulcrum my posture goes, as I fix my posture my thumb collapses. Maybe someday with a lot and lot of practice I will get it right...maybe.

Extra Oral...mouth I'm getting closer...

Today was great. We did extra oral exams. We tell the patients that we are looking for abnormal lumps and bumps but I don't really know what constitutes a abnormal lump or bump. Wow we were so qualified to do the Woman's Health Connection. I got a good look at the vermilion border (the lips)so watch out mouth, I will be in you before too long!

Like a doctor.....

Today I felt like a doctor. First I led my patient in and sat them down while asking how their day was. Then I take their vitals,they call me nurse Leigh. Then I get a complete health history and look up all of their medications(there are millions)and the effects of the medications (there are billions) and every possible way that could affect their dental treatment. Yeah its cool. I am so glad I get to clean their teeth....someday.
It's also fun when you realize right before you are about to pass off your PE that you have been studying it wrong all along. Thank goodness for Jodie, the best patient ever.

Wow talk about drugs!

Wow there are a lot of drugs I found out today. It's amazing how many of them can interfere with dental treatment too! X-rays are awesome. Yep that pretty much covers it. Last night my sister and mom were asking how learning to clean teeth can possibly take two years. From where I stand now I don't know how we are possibly going to cover it all in two years! Man teeth are some pretty complicated things. But I love them. I might be crazy but sitting in class for six hours just talking about teeth gets me way excited! I can't wait to actually get in a patients mouth!

Dex, friends, and me

Clockwork

Today we learned all of the correct positions for accessing every tooth surface without having to lean forward at all. Pretty exciting stuff...easy as clockwork. I'm a big fan of the eight o'clock position. Probably because it's the easiest one. It's gonna take me awhile to get used to the mirror but I have a feeling it is going to become my best friend. Radiology was pretty fun. I made a new friend, his name is Dex #2.