Polish

Today we disclosed, then brushed 1/2 the mouth with the toothbrush, then the other 1/2 with the propy head. I was able to find out what it is like to be cleaned using the brush around the brackets. Anna did a great job! Flossing takes a long time to do. One of the teachers gave Anna a filamented pick to try between the teeth at the gumline instead of using floss. It was great and quite a bit faster! It was also interesting to find out that the fluoride that we have been using at work can be undermining the sealants and composit fillings of the patients that we have been using it on. This is a little concerning to me. Great day in Lab!

Scaling

Today we scaled a different pod parner's teeth. I had the opportunity to scale Alyse's teeth. They are really clean so there wasn't a lot to take off. She then scaled my teeth, Im glad to be in the program for the fact that my peers will help my keep my teeth clean while I'm in braces! She did get some plaque off as well as help me with some cement removal that we left behind from the recent removal of the buttons from my maxillary centeral incisors. My tongue was always finding it and worrying over it. It is nice to have it smoothed over again.

Scaling and catch up

Today was a more relaxed day!!!! We practiced scaling on the typodont and talking about universal instruments and area specific instruments . We were able to do several PE's to get a bit ahead. A more relaxed day, horay!!!!! The rolling of the instrument around the line angles is coming easier, I hope it will be so when I have the opportunity to work on my pod partner. The strokes are becoming more natural which helps to boost confidence in myself. It was a great lab!

Dental Screening

Today we did a mock run on screening. I was assigned to work with Liz today. She is great and patient with me. It was a good experience. I think a few more times with running through all that we need to do and I think I can do this from memory and feel confident. We used intra oral cameras on each other, quite interesting. Fun!

Scaling

Today we passed off probing. I wasn't nervous until I had someone looking over my shoulder. The greatest satisfaction was when the TA was checking my probing and a lot of the probe depths were the same as mine! We practiced scaling on the typodont first to get a feel for the scaler and the quick rotation around the line angles. We practiced on our pod partners. The actual teeth are really slippery and besided focusing on how your angulation and grip and turning of the instrument quick enough so as to not gouge the gingiva, you need to make sure the fulcrum is secure to not slip off the tooth. Lots of fun!

Exploring

Today we did a quick run through with a patient. HHx, Extra, Oral, Probing, and passing off our Explorer PE. I was really nervous by the TA was great help with angulation and helping to feel more comfortable with what I'm doing instead of picking out all the flaws. Things are coming more comfortable and my confidence level is getting better. My PFI index was better so that made me feel better on that aspect of my teeth.

disclosing

I think everyone was a bit nervous for today. We did disclosing on each other. I thought that I was making a consciouse effort to keep my teeth clean with the braces. I am not doing very well at all. I think that it is time to change my toothbrush after brushing the dye off after disclosing with this new brush. It was interesting to see where I have a tendency to focus my brushing by the pattern of paque pink spots. It is interesting to see the habits that we all have that we are not aware of.

Perio screening

We did the full proceedure from bringing the patient back to HHx, HHxrx, Extra, Intra-oral screening, intra screening was a little scary but I did okay. The most interesting was the mapping out of the mouth and getting the fillings and lesions charted. It seems that I always have a new cheek bite or cancer sore to be reported.

green sheet charting

Today we probed each other and charted them in our own charts. I have been concerned that I would have areas that would be infected with the braces, I have been trying to concentrate on the bleeding areas that I am aware of. Today I had better probing depths and only bleeding on the two last areas that I have been concentrating on. Over all I think that I am doing alright. Probing is comming easier and the angulation is becoming smoother. If my patient doesn't make mention of any thing being sensitive then I deem that proceedure as a success.

Probing

Today we did probing and I found it was not as hard as I thought. The area that I have the most difficulty is in angulation of the mirror to see my probe depths in the molar area. With my braces I was concerned that it would be a great imposition, but she seemed to do well with her angulation in finding the depths she needed. Anna is great to work with. She is really consciencous about her patient and has a gentle touch. I learned about myself with my own probing depths.