First Clinic Day!

Best Day Ever. I could just end now and be happy. I was so scared for today because it is my first time scaling since being back. I mean seriously I did not sleep at all last night. I decided to be brave this year and not start off by seeing family. I picked random names and got them scheduled.
My morning patient ended up being a class III! Way to jolt myself back into reality. But it was so much fun. I love OHI when the patient has that lightbulb moment and is so excited to make changes in their routine. I love love love teeth. They are so cool. I mean really really cool.
Anyway I learned so much today. I actually really really liked scaling today. It actually felt natural today for the first time ever. It was actually the best first pt. because the tissues were so loose I could see most of the calculus and it was a great learning experience.
My second pt. was a doll. She only speaks Spanish so I made my wonderful translator husband come and sit with me for two hours and translate. She was a difficult class II pt. I missed tons and tons of spots but I learned so much. Dr. Hansen showed me how to utilize an extra oral fulcrum and it is wonderful. And as an added bonus, she is the perfect mockboard pt. That takes a small load off my mind. I am feeling very lucky today.

First Panic Moment of the Year

So we were all under the impression that on the first day of WSU clinicals we would have a chance to practice on each other. Turns out we were wrong. After the riveting video on AIDS and hepatitis and going over all the protocol we ran out of our 8 hours fast and ended up getting to put a explorer in our partners mouth for about 2 seconds. I kept thinking to myself that I had a full week until a saw a real patient so I would practice at home and it would be okay. Also turned out to be wrong.
I ended up switching a girl VA days and went there today. It ended up being better that way since I didn't have as much dreadful anticipation time. After a very long morning of going over protocol and ridiculous government rules that make no sense at all it was finally time for the first patient! I ended up with a very funny man who needed all sorts of x-rays and was super patient and kind. Good way to start the year. I learned a lot about the VA and am so excited to keep doing rotations there. They have a beautiful brand new facility. It is nice to get used to doing things in two totally different ways because that is what I will have to do when I get a job or sub. It was such a positive experience and really helped to ease my fears, bring on the next pt!

And we are back!

School is back in swing. I am already tired after the first day of three hour classes has returned. I am terrified to scale again, not sure I remember anything at all. I am glad to see all the girls again though. Summer ended up being so crazy that it will be nice to get back into a routine again. Time to pick up some books again. Studying, here I come!