Injections Galore

So I'm sitting good with requirements so today I was the student out. My patient cancelled so I basically gave injections in dental all morning. It was a good experience for me to work in front of the doctors (which I've never done) and to basically get in and get out. I'm so glad that I've read Malamed a million times because I had to be prepared basically for any injection. I did a PSA, IA, GP, and infiltrations. I did well on all and thought it was a really good experience to be in that higher pressure setting.

Class 3

So my class 3 pt from last year came in today and was again a class 3. Yeah. So I'm getting really good experiences. I feel like I've learned a ton this last month and a half. I seen a lot of 3's which has taught me a ton. I'm better at exploring, ultrasonicing, lateral pressure, accessory fulcrums, etc. I've learned a lot. I hope to continue learning so that by May next year I won't even doubt my skills.

Follow-Up on Hardest Pt Ever

So I had my class 3, hardest patient ever back today. I still only cleaned one quad but I did a million times better and felt a million times better about it too. So my instrumenting and exploring was a lot better. I did great at getting the calculus off, which there was a ton. I only missed two spots. Which for a person that has so much calculus that it's on her occlusal surface I think I did pretty good. It feels great to actually feel like I'm progressing. I also did really good with the LA and Arestin. Today was just a great day.

If at first you don't succeed...try, try again...and again.

So that hardest patient of my life came in today. I used all my instruments. The doctor even said to me, "Gosh, how many instruments do you guys have?" It was nuts. I cleaned one quad in the appointment. That's it. The biggest thing I learned was to utilized every instrument you have and keep on going. That's all. And just do your best.

Faster

Today I realized that I need to be faster at everything that I do. I think that I need to keep my eye on the clock and think to myselft faster, faster, faster. I feel like I'm the slowest student here and I don't want to be. I want to be the most efficient. My goal is to be faster by looking at the time more often to be aware how long I'm taking.

First Mock Board

Today was a crazy day. First mockboards...what do you expect! So I missed 6 spots but I felt like I ran out of time for many, many, many reasons. Also I was frantic. I really need to take a chill pill and calm down and do better. It was a really good learning experience, one I am glad for. One thing that I learned was that I need to spend shorter intervals ultrasonicing and scaling with more intermitent exploring checks. So that I'm not going over and going over unnecesary spots. That's the big lesson of the day.

Pre-Mockboard

Well today I saw my mock board. I cleaned her left quads and boy do I have my work cut out for me on mockboards. For mockboards I definately need to be more aggressive. I also need to be more confident. I feel like my instrumenting skills and exploring skills are improving so I just need to keep that up. I just really hope she comes. I think she's pretty reliable though. Today was also the first day that I gave a pt LA. I did five injections today and it was so exhilarating. I need to remember to wait a few seconds for a positive aspiration. I had two positive aspirations so that was a good experience for me.