Today I had a patient that looked like she had abfractions yet didn't present with attrition. After speaking with Karlie Weeks, I realized I should have done a little more digging into why she may have had these abfractions on so many of her teeth. I should have asked if she grinds or clenches her teeth. Next time I see her I will have to do that.
I really had a good day today. I am up to 44 quads of a class II/V and 11 sets of BWX. I am really happy about that. In our pod wrap today our instructors asked who is in need of class III. I really feel like I am in need of class IIIs. I have been so stressed that I am not getting more and have no idea where I am going to find more. Come to find out, in pod wrap today, I am actually sitting just fine with my class IIIs. I have 10 quads and 3 more are scheduled for next Tuesday. When the instructors ask who is in need of class IIIs, they mean students who have fewer than 5 quads of a class III. So, all in all I am doing well. I am looking forward to getting those last 3 quads done on my patient. I also have two VA clinic days coming up that hopefully will help with class IIIs and anesthesia. I haven't given any injections yet. I am really worried that the farther away I get from the last time I gave injections, I will be really rusty. I will really have to read up on injection sites before I do give them.
Today I didn't really feel like I was on my game with calculus removal. I didn't have any missed areas, but I just didn't feel super confident in my stroke. In pod wrap, we also talked about "to the tooth, to the toe, and twist." I just didn't feel like I was doing that very effectively. I also felt like I was having some trouble accessing some areas. I really need to work on that. I just need to ask an instructor to come over and watch me. Hopefully in the process I can pass off some PEs and get me closer to graduation.
Ok! I just ready a blog post from last fall about how much I enjoyed using my Blu-Boa. Boy, has my opinion changed! I can't stand the Blu-Boa. I am so frustrated that we were required to buy 3 when I can't stand the first one I got. I just don't feel like it is very effective and my patients don't usually enjoy it very much either. It can't suction up large pieces of calculus or suction very quickly. What a waste of my precious loan funds.
FYI: We are under the 6 month mark to graduation! WOO-HOO!
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Ha Ha I just barely made the cut with being ok with class III's so far....a grand total of SIX quads. Few just squeaked by! I still need them too! I envy Brooke and Leigh...they rock. And the Blue Boa...LOVE IT! Sometimes I use it in conjunction with the saliva ejector when it pools in the back of their mouth and the blue boa just isn't getting it all. Try that, maybe you'll change your mind. Also....sometimes I feel like a moron when I am scaling. It's like all of sudden nothing is working, when it worked, or I could do it with the patient who I saw previously. It's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I loved your blog. So many good points you made. I have been really trying to focus on the "towards the tooth - towards the toe", it really does help if I can just remember to do it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, regarding injections, I haven't done any either and I am SUPER nervous about it. I am like - I have to give 35 and I have done zero. Will I even remember how?
And lastly, I HATE the blue boa too, my patient's choke every time. It doesn't get rid of the water fast enough, the water just pools in the back of their throat. So I stopped using it. Maybe I will have to try what Sam suggested.