Dexter, Dexter, Dexter...

    I went down to the new clinic to practice taking xrays on the mannequins.  We don't take enough radiographs in clinic to be quick at it, so I think that timing us as we did a FMX was helpful.  It just made us aware that even though we had 3 hours, we couldn't (and shouldn't) take that long.   Even though it wasn't easy taking the radiographs on the Dexters, it was a good learning experience.  Placing the plates exactly where we want them, squeezing the handles on top of their head to open and close their mouths, moving their tongues out of the way with our fingers are all part of the challenge. 
      After processing them, we were given feedback on how we did.  We critiqued our own images and figured out what was wrong (and right) about them and how we could improve them next time.  I have taken bitewings on a patient since then and found that it was a little easier.  Although the people in the radiology clinic are helpful, it can be very hectic.  So, having the time in the other clinic to practice is definitely a good thing. 

     A couple of weeks ago, I had the experience of walking my patient to the Oral Surgery clinic for a blood pressure reading.  I took her BP in clinic twice before going to Oral Surgery and each time was higher than the last.  The patient couldn't understand why her BP was so high because she felt fine.  She had arrived to her appointment early and walked up to the hospital to get a cup of coffee and was convinced that the coffee was the cuplrit.  She told me that she had been looking forward to getting her teeth cleaned, but she understood why we had to reschedule.
     As we were walking back to our clinic, she said she had been on medication for hypertension in the past, but her doctor had taken her off and advised she self- monitor her BP at home.  She admitted she hadn't taken her BP in some time.  She then told me that her husband had recently had a pacemaker placed and he was currently being treated for cancer.  She had a LOT going on in her life.  I'm still not sure whether her PCP had actually taken her off the meds or if she did that on her own.  But, she has since been to see him and has been cleared for treatment. 
     Even though we weren't able to treat her that day, I am glad she was able to get the help she needed.  If she continued to go with uncontrolled hypertension, the results could have been much different!

Ethics...

To me, ethical decision making is knowing that you did what was right by your patient.  I realize that it's not always easy, especially when it doesn't seem like anyone is hurt by the decision.  I feel that most of the scenarios presented in class were very interesting and was impressed by the answers given by the dentists and hygienists. Here's a new scenario for your consideration:
A classmate treats a patient with about half of her dentition and knowingly charges her the full fee because "she worked hard on her and her insurance would cover it anyway."  I hope this person never accepts a position where there are monetary incentives for production.  So, my question is: Can ethics be taught or is it something that we just know?

Oh, the dreaded GPG rotation...

So, GPG...what was this rotation going to be like?  I had heard about how boring it was, nothing to do, so many of us in there at the same time.  The thought of having to go there (not to mention the number of days) was not something I looked forward to.  Well, a few weeks ago, that time came.  Even though I was only able to do 1 AP in the 5 or 6 times I have been in GPG, I still had a positive experience.  Most of the time I have assisted the D3s and D4s with their patients.  Sure, it's not as exciting as calculus and biofilm (LOL), but it helps to see the same procedures our patients will be asking us about.  (And the dental students are really happy to have the help!)
OK, OK, so everyone knows not to judge a book by it's cover, but it is sooo easy to do!  So, the lesson I learned is that each experience is what you make it.  We can't always control what is presented to us, just how well we react to it.  The next time I hear how awful (or great for that matter) something is, I'm going to try to keep an open mind :-)  

Rally Day...

Being a part of Rally Day on Friday was a really fun experience.  I really have a limited knowledge of politics, so I really didn't know what to expect.  As we walked around to the different delegates, I was expecting that they would be available to talk, but that was not the case.  We were able to speak with two delegates and a couple of their aides.  Hopefully, leaving the goodie bags with the talking points attached was enough to get the bills passed (and the chocolate couldn't hurt!).
It was nice to see the future dental hygiene profession so well represented with students from around the state, and I was proud to be a part of it!

1st patient of the semester...

On Wednesday, I had my 1st patient of the semester.  I know that we are still learning, but I feel like I should have accomplished more.  I started scaling with 40 mins left to the appointment, but didn't finish!  I realize that accuracy is more important than time, but I can't help feeling frustrated by it.  Anyway, I just wanted to express my thoughts, even though I know that I will become more efficient as I get more experienced.  Until then, I'm going to stay positive and continue to try to improve.