Local Anesthetic Written Board

ITS DONE!!! So so happy right now. I am not sure if I passed but honestly who really cares at this point. Just glad it's not hanging over my head anymore. The actual test was not as bad as I expected. Done, Done, Done, Done!!!

Speedy Day

Today I learned something that was a very important thing for me. When I get into private practice I will survive. I have been in a sheer panic the last year and a half about what I am going to do when I graduate. How will I ever be fast enough? How will I ever be good enough? How will I have any idea what I am doing? What will I do without an instructer to check my work? Today at the VA I had two easy patients in the morning. They were the stereotypical private practice patient. Guess what I finished them in an hour without stressing, rushing, or panicing. When did that happen? I guess I haven't ever seen people like this. Then in the afternoon I had a patient that needed everything. I took all the x-rays, did all my own charting for a brand new pt, probing, scaling, and waiting forever in line for a scale check in an hour and a half. I did this with my head in a cloud and my nose running into my mask from the cold I am getting. I can do this.

Mockboard #2

Today was the last day I got to have Todd come translate for me. A little bittersweet. I don't even know how to explain perio anymore haha. I don't love having the afternoon pt. because I am always calm until I have to record for someone else. Then I get super nervous for the person and it freaks me out for the afternoon. I also learned that I need to study what paperwork goes where. All I can say is good thing it was a mockboard.
The morning went pretty smoothly. I didn't do so hot on my LA written practice test, no surprise there. I so need to start studying for that. Less than a week before I need to know it.
The cleaning went really well. I was really really careful. I ended up cleaning two quads instead of just one. My patient was Tori's morning mockboard that she was nice enough to share with me. We didn't want her to have to come back when she was already hanging out with us all day long so we just cleaned as fast as we could. Miraculously we both finished her in time. I did one very dumb thing. Forgot to put 0's in the recession box. Darn it. I won't forget that again.

Why I love the VA!!!!

I love the VA. Why you might ask, well I will explain. I love the people. All of them.

NUMBER 1: I love the girls I ride down with and eat lunch with. They make my day every time. They are amazing, talented, optimistic girls that I will miss drastically when this program is over. I love that I get to know them on a whole new level when we spend the whole day at the VA together. I get to have conversations that never would have happened without the VA, coversations about stuff that has nothing to do with teeth. It's awesome. We also seem to have a whole new group every time. I love the suprise of who will be the CA I get to hang out with today.
NUMBER 2: I love the patients. They make me feel so much better about life. They are usually pleasant and kind. They are usually patient with me and my learning. They are optimistic when I talk to them about trials and health problems they are going through. They help me to put my problems in perspective and realize that "Hey, this test, the one you have been freaking out about FOREVER, is NOT the end of the world."
NUMBER 3: I love the instructors. Getting to know them outside of class and Weber clinic is so fun. They all have something new to teach me, and they all have something unique to offer. They are so good about pointing out the good I do when it would be so easy to focus on my many many mistakes.

That pretty much sums it up. Thank you people, one and all, for making my life better.

Thank you Hygiene Gods

Later last night my pt cancelled. I love that feeling of terror. After almost draining my entire backup list I made it to my last ditch effort patient name. Guess what, someone else had already scheduled her on accident. But then praise that wonderful lady, she said she had a friend who wanted to come in. She ended up being the sweetest lady who also wants her kids to come in. Score. I love nice people. As I was walking her up to the front she says "Thanks for being so patient with me." I thought it was the opposite!
The afternoon I got the best news I have ever heard in my life. I almost started crying out of sheer relief. My sweet mother-in-law came down to get her teeth cleaned. Guess what. She is a board patient. Thank you Hygiene Gods. I had a major melt down last night and then look what happens. She is good to come down and be my mockboard patient too. I huge huge load just lifted off my chest. I am so so grateful right now. I will be on the lookout for everyone else now.

First Screening Experience

Today we went and did screenings at the elementary school. It was so much fun. Brooke was a pro with the kids. I did learn that I need need to work on my knowledge of childrens dentition. I will do that. The kids were adorable and it was fun to get out of the clinic for a bit.

Back in Business

Made sure I that I would have a nice easy way back into WSU clinic. I scheduled my most reliable easy class V pt. He is one of my very favorites. I would have him come back everyday if I could. I got to do the laser on him again. We also took samples of the plaque in the pocket we had done two previous laser treatments on and the opposite side of the arch that we were using as a control for Joy's study. It was so interesting to look at both of the samples under the microscope. The plaque was so different. I couldn't believe how much more active the plaque was that came from the pocket we didn't treat. Teeth are so freaking cool.
My afternoon pt. was one of Brooke's patients. She was fun. Very pleasant nice lady. She had a lot of plaque but I had her shinning by the time she left.

First Day Back: VA Boot fun

Today was quite the jolt back into reality. It was kind of strange starting the semester out at the VA and not in class. Felt a little bit stupid with my double boot madness. I thought when I had the surgery that I would be out of boots by this point. Wrong. I brought a slipper to slip on so I could run the rheostat. To be specific I grabbed the right foot slipper because I am right handed. Didn't think that through too well since I actually run the rheostat with my left foot, oops. So I was gonna double boot it the whole day. It was amusing to say the least. I couldn't feel how much pressure I was putting on the pedal so I accidentally kept spraying my morning patient in the face with the ultrasonic. I bet he liked that. Then I had a new Dr. come and check my pt. I wasn't positive what his name was which created problems when he was walking the opposite way and I was trying to catch him in my two huge boots. I finally ended up yelling a mumbled version of what I thought his name was and hoped he would hear it as whatever his name really was. Good plan huh. I chased him around the entire square in the building before I got desperate enough to do this. Great fun. Welcome back to school.