Fulcrum

We had a fun day today!  We have been able to practice on each other the last couple of clinic days.  On Monday we practiced taking vital signs on each other.  I tell you, blood pressure is hard to do.  I really struggled with that.  I need to bring my blood pressure cuff and stethescope home to practice on my hubby.  It is great to have a built in guinea pig!  Today we were learning how to use the dental mirror inside the mouth.  I thought learning these things would be so easy since I have such a long dental back ground, but it isn't.  Learning to fulcrum for all the differen areas in the mouth is harder than I expected it to be.  I just need to practice, practice, practice.  I think I am finally getting into a routine in the clinic though.  It feels good to finally feel like I know how to start each day there.  I can't wait for it to be just second nature and to not have to think about what needs to be done next. 

Today we were also practicing extra oral exams on each other.  This is where we palpate each others faces and necks to check for lumps and bumps that shouldn't be there.  It is fun to be part of a profession that looks out for a person's overall health.  We aren't just concerned with the teeth or mouth, but the person as a whole and we want to help our patients maintain great health for their lifetime.