First Full Mouth

A full mouth set of x-rays takes forever to take.  I realized how important it is to look at the bite tabs for placing the tube of the x-ray machine.  It is also important to talk to your instructor and clarify which x-rays need to be retaken.  I thought I needed to retake 5 and did just that, but my instructor only wanted me to retake 3.  Oops!  I will clarify that one next time.  That would have saved me some time.  Also, if I had been looking at the bite tabs I would have noticed that I was going to cone cut the x-rays.  I am so grateful for patient patients that are willing to sit in an x-ray room for about 45 minutes while I get things ready, take the x-rays, have them checked by an instructor, and then retake them.  My wonderful friend Rock helped me out on Wednesday.  He was once in this position and understands what students go through while learning.  Thank heavens for people like him.  I can't wait to get him finished up next month.  I am going to work on being more efficient for me next patient.  I am going to be very specific about how I set things up before my patient gets there and try to stick to my schedule.  I know that I am going to have some learning to do since my patient on Wednesday is a Class II.  I will have to learn how to use my Gracey's and scale subgingivally without seeing what I am doing.  I will be going strictly off of feel.  Wish me luck!