FMX

Both of my patients today needed FMXs It was great. My first patient was wonderful. I used scanX and I did not need one retake. He was a 1b so I was able to start and finish him in one appointment. That was a good feeling realizing last year I struggled to finish a 1b with just bitewing x-rays. My next appointment wasn't as easy. She is my board pt. so I took a FMX of x-rays on her also. Going into it I was all confident knowing that I just took a FMX with out any retakes. Humm... her mouth was so small... Wow... I had a bunch of retakes. I was hoping to get her out of there as soon as I could but man those x-rays were a struggle. But i think I learned by trial and error. Hopefully my next PAs won't be as bad.

lingual bar

Boy do I dislike lingual bars... I had a class II patient with plenty of calculus all around her lingual bar on her Mandibular Anterior teeth... Wahoo. This was great practice for me. I also learned I need to learn to drop handle and curve around root to get inter proximal for maxillary. Reach up into pockets and try to visualize where I'm taking my instrument. I also need to sharpen... that is something I really need to work on... I tried the other day and I don't know that I am doing the best job and that makes me nervouse. I don't want to ruin instruments.

Arestin

Today was a pretty productive day... I finished a class III. She is such a doll. I have been able to see her all three semesters of clinics. She accumulates calculus really fast. I'm noticing how the rate of disease and accumulation is so different for every person. I will be encouraging her to come back for 2-3 month appointments. My next patient was a class V with a couple deep pockets that I decided to maintain her oral health we would place Arestin. I learned that I really need to angle in instrument like a probe to get to the base of the pocket. I also learned that the care for Arestin is no brushing for 12 hrs and floss normally. Good experience.

Oh happy day!!!

Ok... so my last patient of the day. Is my board Patient!!! wahoo! She also qualifies for mockboards... I couldn't be happier! My afternoon patient didn't show so I was up front looking at the recall list. Tori answered the phone and was telling a patient that we were all booked out until Jan. So I let her know that if she wanted to come in right then I could see her but we would only be able to get x-rays... Well she came in... and I was frustrated because we really didn't have much time at all... but then he x-rays came up and I was seeing a gold mine of calculus... yes!! Plus she is so nice, dependable... all around AMAZING! I'm so happy!

Last day of clinic my patients no show... Lovely!!

Today is my last day of clinic for my 3rd semester... wahoo! But of course both of my patients did not show. Lovely... I was able to get two patients that had just called in. They were very late so I was not able to finish but the x-rays were taken and HHX looked over so they should all be a lot quicker the next time they come in. Luckly I am all caught up so everything is ok and it's all just extra practice... So I'm not too stressed.

Bringing back patients

Today I was able to see a patient that I treated last semester... she was a III then and unfortunately for her she is a III again. It really made me see and realize how quickly the calculus can accumulate and how important frequent visits are for those patients that are periodontally involved. Lesson learned get patients back quickly! The next patient was a patient that hadn't been seen for three years. She had nothing... she was an absolutely clean1B. It is interesting to see the difference. She had in good OH but she said she didn't floss all the time. The first patient I saw that is still a Class III says she toothbrushes 3 x daily and flosses everyday. Hum...

Forced to get faster with probing:)

I have been noticing that my hang ups with time are x-rays and probing. I've been working on getting faster. At the VA I have been getting mostly perio charting and exams and x-rays... so ya I'm getting the practice I need. I'm not going to lie it's definitely not my favorite thing!!!!... but I know it's all good for me and I'm starting to see a glimpse of improvement. Today I had two patients in the morning to perio chart... ya it forced me to get my gears in motion. So it was good.