Sterilization mode!

Today in clinic we put all of of instruments in the cassettes and bags the way they are supposed to be and we are sterilizing everything! Woo hoo! You know what that means?! Soon we'll be using them. Nice.

I had a problem with one of my mirrors today. I was trying to screw the mirror portion into the cone socket on one of them and it wouldn't screw in. So Professor Costley tried to fix it and my mirror ended up breaking. It was kind of funny, except I'm short one mirror now. She is going to get me a new one.

We also practiced exploring more. I worked on Ashley today. She has braces so it was hard to do on the buccal surface of the tooth. I practiced a TON on Larry (my trusty typodont) at home so I am learning new angles so that I can actually fulcrum in most areas. The posterior teeth are still a beast though. I'll practice more over the weekend and hopefully I can figure out how to make it work with my short fingers.

Terrible day.

Today was AWFUL. I don't know if it could have been any worse for me. I have really been struggling ever since we learned how to fulcrum. I kept getting so frustrated, thinking that I am just retarded or something since everyone is doing fine. I was having such a hard time fulcruming because it felt impossible for my ring finger to reach any of the teeth so that I can actually fulcrum and use the instrument correctly at the same time.

Instructor Demings was so nice today to spend a lot of time with me to try to figure out my problem. I was getting so frustrated. After many failed attempts, she brought in the big guns. (Professor Costley) I explained to Professor Costley my problem about how i can't seem to reach any of the teeth to fulcrum and maintain the right grasp (or any grasp for that matter) and use the instrument correctly all at the same time. I showed her what I meant. She had me try choking up on the instrument, trying numerous incorrect grasps, and many other things. Nothing works. My fingers are too short. My ring finger literally can't reach the area I'm supposed to be fulcruming on. BIG PROBLEM. I never thought that the fact that I am tiny would ever effect my ability to be a dental hygienist.

Professor Costley told me that she honestly doesn't know what I should do. She is going to talk to all of the instructors in the program to see if any of them can come up with a solution to my problem. She said they've never had this problem before. I am totally stressed out. I've been super bummed about it all day. I've wanted to be a dental hygienist since I was eight years old. I am so sad. I really hope we can figure out something. Until then I'll probably remain very anxious and unhappy.

UGH.

It's only wednesday?!

Phew. What a week. I can't believe it's only half over! I still have two tests to take before the end of the week. Head and neck anatomy and Statistics. LAME. I'm mostly just worried about stats. I am so far from being a math person. Taking an online math class wasn't one of the brightest ideas I've ever had.

Today in clinic we practiced probing! I've been excited for this day for a long time! It is a lot harder than it looks. I've learned so far that pretty much everything about dental hygiene is harder than I thought it was going to be. I think it's too bad that many people don't know all that it takes for people to become a dental hygienist.

Fulcruming? What the.....

Oh my heck. Today in clinic was SO incredibly frustrating. I can't seem to get it. Posterior teeth are the worst. Anterior teeth are hard too. I feel like I suck! It kept trying and trying but just couldn't get it. Instructor Demings kept trying to help me out but what she was saying wasn't making sense to me.

I had two slight "Ah HA!" moments but it did me no good because I still couldn't seem to apply them correctly. Poor Adrienne had to endure my frustration while I tried over and over and over on her but she was awesome about it. We didn't have time to pass off our Health History PE's today so I feel like I am really behind. I am so stressed out.

I have so much homework to do tonight along with a test tomorrow in Perry's class and our readiness assessment in Costley's class. I don't know how to fit it all in. I hope I can get a hang of this.

Extra oral exams!

Today in clinic we learned how to perform an extra oral exam and also how to use our mouth mirrors properly in the mouth. Professor Costley used me as the demo student and performed an extra oral exam on me. It was fun to sit in the chair! Fulcruming isn't too bad but I need to practice so that I can find what is the most comfortable for me.

So far, I'm loving school! It is hard and there is a lot to take in but I'm still loving every second of it!

health histories and vital signs

The last two clinic sessions have been more stressful for me. There is a lot to remember when filling out the treatment sheet with the health history information. I'm worried that I'm going to forget something. I also have never taken vital signs before so that was a new experience for me. I am going to have to practice on my brother and parents so that I can get it down really well. I'm sure it will all become second nature to me eventually. Practice makes perfect, right?

I am running for Junior class vice president and Junior class representative. I'm also running for some committee co-chair positions but i REALLY want to either be Junior class vice president or Junior class representative. I really want to get involved. It would be a great experience for me and I've always wanted to be in a leadership position. I would give it 110% and love it.

VOTE FOR ME!

8-1!

Today in clinic we learned all about the postions we should/shouldn't sit in, the correct posture to have, and where our chair should be positioned when we are cleaning certain areas of the patient's mouth. Because I'm right handed, I sit between 8 o'clock and 1 o'clock while working on my patient. I tested it out on Larry (my trusty typodont) and it was really helpful for me. I learned that I can see all of the areas in the mouth AND maintain correct posture all at the same time.

I also tried on a pair of Loupes and I am in love with them! I am definitely going to get a pair. I'm excited to try on a bunch of different kinds at the UDHA convention this month and see which kind works best for me.