January 31, 2007

My goal for today was to use my Gracie's correctly. I got some good practice using my Gracie's on a Class IV patient. I remembered which end to use, but it was definitely different using my Gracie's in deep pockets. Today was very interesting for me, and I learned a lot! My goal for next time is to do all my duties as the CA.

January 29, 2007

My goal for today was to get done with OD in one hour. I think I met my goal today! I had my mom be my patient today, and I got all done! I took x-rays, did OD, scaled all 4 quads, and polished. It felt good to get all done! My goal for next time is to use my Gracie's correctly.

January 24, 2007

My goal for today was to get my patient's chart all filled out before the instructors left. I am too late! The instructors have gone home, and I am still here filling out my patient's chart. I think one of the problems was that I walked out my patient late, so I got done with charting late. The patient that I saw today had at least 2 quads of a class 3! I don't know why I keep seeing all these hard patients. I feel like I don't know what I am doing. Oh well, I hope it gets better! My goal for next Monday is to get done with OD in an hour.

January 22, 2007

My goal for today was to get at least one quad scaled, and I made it! I took 4 BWX, and then did the extra and intra-oral exams. I am getting faster at probing, but it takes longer when I have to write down the numbers myself. I scaled the UR quad, but then I had to stop. My goal for next time is to get the pt. chart filled out before the instructors leave.

January 17, 2007

My goal for today was to be faster and more confident while I was probing. It took me a long time to probe because my patient had some deep pockets. He had some 9 mm pockets and one 10 mm pocket! That was my first encounter with a class 4 patient, and it was crazy! I learned a lot today. I was only able to get OD and OHI done today, but I feel ok about it. I think I will be trading a Senior for either a class 3 or a couple class 2 patients. My goal for Monday is to get at least one quad scaled.

January 10, 2007

Hooray! I finished a patient! Today my goal was to use proper chair positions and scale all 4 quads. My dad came back again to be my patient. I took 4 more PA's, scaled all 4 quads, and did selective polishing. It felt really good to get done with a full mouth scale today. When I first started scaling, my grasp was too firm on the instrument and I was going over the tooth too many times. Things went a lot faster after I started using a lighter grasp. My goal for next Wednesday is to be faster more confident while I am probing.

January 8, 2007

Wow! Today was our first day back for the new semester. It was hard to come back after Christmas break, but once we got going today, it felt like we had never left. We learned how to use our area specific instruments. I felt like today ran very smoothly for our first day back. My goal for Wednesday is to use proper chair positions and to scale all 4 quads.